Mali

FROM 19-05-2013 TO 25-05-2013

PRAYER FOR MALI June 2013

Introduction
Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa and one of the world's poorest. After the 1990s the country has experienced rapid economic growth, with a flourishing democracy and a relatively stable society. All this changed at the beginning of 2012, when the state began to lose control over the north, followed by a military coup failed, and the French military intervention against the Islamic warriors who were advancing towards the south. The Saharan faction of Al Qaeda quickly entered the region bringing more anarchy. After the military coup of March 2012 they seized the north where the Tuareg live, cutting the region from the rest of Mali and there imposing a harsh form of sharia law.

During a meeting in November 2012, ECOWAS, the group of countries of Western Africa,  decided to send a united military force with the support of the UN to take over the north. But because they found that these preparations would take several months, Islamists took the initiative and began to move towards the seat of government located at the southeast of the country. Alarmed to learn that the city of Konno had been captured , the Bamako government asked France to intervene militarily. The French troops quickly regained the fortified cities of Islamists in the north, but the conflict continues.


Sunday: In April this year, the Security Council voted to send UN  peacekeeping forces into Mali to benefit from gains of recent French military intervention. In July 12,000 soldiers and policemen will be deployed in order to stabilize the nation. Pray that this action will in Mali lasting peace.

Monday: Humanitarian agencies inform us that there are 20 million people in this African region who suffer from a severe lack of food. This crisis includes more than 4.3 million Malians who are displaced due to the conflict in the north. Pray for their physical needs: shelter, food and water. Pray also for their spiritual needs: hope, peace and the opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Tuesday: We hear of child soldiers. Pray that this evil will not continue, and those already recruited will be released from these horrors.

Wednesday: Pray for those countries that surround Mali in which Malian refugees have sought refuge: Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Algeria, Guinea and Togo. Pray for members of Christian humanitarian organizations working in these countries to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of these refugees.

Thursday: Pray for Christians working in Mali during these difficult and dangerous times are protected and they are really like lights shining in the darkness. Pray that there is peace in Mali.

Friday: Pray especially for Christians programs broadcast by radio, many listen to them. Pray that these programs can continue, and for the message of truth to be heard by many more.

Saturday: Pray for the people of Mali who have not yet heard the Gospel. Pray especially for the Soninke, a major ethnic groups, among which there are very few Christians. Pray that God will reveals himself to Soninke through dreams and visions, and they will want to know the truth about Jesus.

The Shin of Pakistan

FROM 12-05-2013 TO 18-05-2013

The Shin of Pakistan

Northern Pakistan, bordered by China to the north, Afghanistan to the northwest, and India to the east, is said to contain the most breathtaking sights in Pakistan. It is there-nestled between five of the world's highest mountain peaks-that the northern tribes can be found. They are the original inhabitants of the area.

The northern tribes include the Badeshi, Burushas, Kolai, Punjabi Pahari, Shina, Shumashti, and Kho. Before the conquest of the Pushtun, their ancestors occupied Dir, Swat, and other areas of northern Pakistan. The British gained control of the region around 1895, but left in 1947 when Pakistan became an independent nation. Yet, the Pushtun have dominated the various ethnic groups of this region for years, either buying their land or forcing them out with violence.

The northern tribes are known as quiet, peace-loving, and brave people. Most of them live in the upper valleys, where farming is very difficult due to the dry, rugged mountain terrain. The opening of the Karakoram Highway, which follows the Indus River Valley, has had the greatest economic impact on this region.

What are their lives like?
The communities of the northern areas are located in the narrow valleys formed by the tributaries of the Indus, where irrigation is possible. Since the Indus River flows through a steep rocky gorge, it is useless for irrigation. The people there are primarily farmers and shepherds. Grain is planted on terraced fields and bulls are used for plowing.


Mountain ranges and political borders tend to isolate the ethnic groups that live in the northern areas. Most settlements exist as small independent communities, located at altitudes between 2,000 and 14,000 feet. Families usually have houses in four or five different locations at the higher altitudes. Only in the winter do they live together in their compact villages, which lie along the rivers.

Prior to the twentieth century, the northern areas of Pakistan were semi-independent. They were under various local rulers such as the Mehtars of Chitral, the Wali of Swat, and the Mir of Hunza. Today, these communities are under Pakistani administration, governed by a federally appointed district commissioner.


What are their beliefs?
Centuries ago, the area of northern Pakistan was primarily Buddhist. Later, Buddhism was replaced by Hinduism. However, around 1000 A.D., the Islamic faith spreadh to the region. Today, the vast majority of the people are Sunni (orthodox) Muslim.

Traces of traditional, pre-Islamic beliefs still linger in a few areas. Some of the tribes practice shamanism. They believe that there is an unseen world of gods, demons, fairies, and ancestral spirits. They depend on shamans (priests or priestesses) to cure the sick by magic, communicate with the gods, and control events.

What are their needs?
The northern tribes have many health problems due to poor water quality and poor nutrition. Portable drinking water, sewage disposal, and drainage facilities are available for a small segment of the population. Dentists and doctors are desperately needed among these groups. There is a People's Works Program (PWP) in the region, but it can not meet the immense needs of the communities.

Educational facilities are also lacking and the need for qualified teachers is great. Some of the tribes, such as the Burushas, still have an unwritten language and most of them have no missions agencies working among them. On the whole, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is closed to Christianity and is opposed to the presence of missionaries there.

Prayer Points
Sunday -  Pray that the Lord will raise up labourers who are willing to invest long term service to the tribes of northern Pakistan. It will be costly, but He is worthy!

Monday - Pray that the Pakistani Christians will gain a vision to see the people of the northern areas reached with the Gospel. Pray that the Lord would encourage them to become fishers of men.

Tuesday - Pray that the Pakistani government will be favourable toward Christians and will allow them to freely preach the Gospel. There is great humanitarian need in the region and many organisations would be ready to go in if there was official support. 

Wednesday - Pray for cooperation among missions agencies that are focusing on these tribes. Reaching these isolated peoples will need people with different skills. 

Thursday - Pray that God will raise up linguists to translate the Word of God into each of the tribal languages. 

Friday - Ask God to send medical teams and humanitarian aid workers to minister to the northern tribes.

Saturday - Pray that strong local churches will be planted among each of these tribes.

The Purepecha of Mexico

FROM 05-05-2013 TO 11-05-2013

The Purepecha of Mexico

You have heard of the Aztecs but what about the Purepecha!
They are both indigenous Mexican peoples. The Aztecs are also known as the Mexicas from whom Mexico gets its name.

The Purepecha are a culture rich people. They existed well before Columbus and were never conquered by the Mexica. However, after they succumbed to Spanish colonial powers their religion became a mix of Catholicism and their own Animistic beliefs. There are about 65,000 Purepechans in Mexico living mainly in the East of Mexico.

Many of their traditions live on, including the "Jimbani Uexurhina" or new year that is celebrated on February 1. The community lights a fire called the chijpiri jimbani or "new fire" as part of a ceremony that honours the four elements.

The Western Purepechas are an ethnic people group high up in the Sierra Madre mountains of Michoacan. They are largely unreached because of their fierce territorialism, violent resistance to outsiders (including other Mexicans) and to the Gospel. Even their own differences from one Purepecha village to another in dress and dialect often cause feuding among themselves. There are barriers which impede the flow of the gospel, even from one village to another.

Believers suffer great persecution from their own people.

Prayer Points:

Sunday – Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send more missionaries to the Purepechas. Praise the Lord that the first couple are ready to go soon. (via WEC).

Monday – Pray that their hearts will be softened to become receptive to the Gospel. Ask the Holy Spirit to be even now preparing them to hear the gospel.

Tuesday – Pray that God will give new strategies to those working among them to win the lost. Pray for patience and perseverance as seed is sown.

Wednesday – Pray for the believers to be bold and strengthened to endure and overcome in the midst of persecution.

Thursday – Pray that indigenous leaders will be raised up to continue the work. Pray for discipleship and training of potential leaders.

Friday - Praise God, the Purépecha New Testament was completed and dedicated on August 10 and 11 last year. Pray for widespread use of the New Testament in homes and churches. Ask God to touch lives through this translation.

Saturday – Pray that the church in Mexico will see the challenge of unreached peoples and be willing to send their best people to share the gospel with those who have never heard.

The Burusho of Pakistan

FROM 28-04-2013 TO 04-05-2013

The Burusho of Pakistan

The Burushas (also known as the Burusho), inhabit three rugged mountainous areas of northern Pakistan: the Hunza, Nagar, and Yasin Valleys. These valleys are bordered by China to the north, Afghanistan to the northwest, and India to the east. Most of the Burusho live in the Hunza Valley.

Political oppression and the struggle for control have made life extremely difficult for the Burusho for many years.

What are their lives like?
Although the Burusho are a proud people, they are still very warm and friendly. Most of them are farmers, while some are involved in tourism or trade. Others serve in the military or work for the government.

Family ties are very important among the Burusho. The husband is the head of his household. The Burusho do not usually intermarry with other ethnic groups in the area, not even with the Hunza or Nagar Burusho.

"Burushaski" is the spoken language of the Burusho people. Though this is their primary language, it is not yet a written language. Each of the three valleys (Hunza, Nagar, and Yasin) has a distinct dialect, with most similarities found between the Hunza and Nagar dialects. Urdu, which is the national language of Pakistan, is the secondary language of the Burusho.

What are their beliefs?
Although the Burusho people were traditionally animistic (believed that non-human objects have spirits), Islam is now their primary religion; however, the Burusho differ from valley to valley as to which faction of Islam they follow. Most of the Burusho are Ismailis, while others are Shia or Sunni Muslims.

The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader for the Ismaili Muslims and is believed to be the only one who has the Holy Spirit. They also believe that he is in the world to lead and guide the people, that he is representative of God's speech and actions, and that he is the only one who can fully understand the Koran and God.

The Ismaili do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but rather that He was simply a great prophet. Since Christians are accepted as their "spiritual relatives," the Burusho have no hostility toward them. They are even open to discussions about God and do not discourage Bible reading. The Shia, however, are not as open to the Gospel.

Less than .03% of the Burusho are Christians and there are no churches in the Burusho territory.

What are their needs?
The Burusho have many health problems due to poor water quality and poor nutrition. Eye diseases and dental problems are common. Dentists and doctors are desperately needed among the Burusho.

Education is highly favored, especially for girls; however, the need for qualified teachers is great.

Finally, Burushaski (the language of the Burusho) is still an unwritten language. Qualified workers are needed to develop a written language for the Burusho so that the Bible can be translated into their language.

The name, "Islamic Republic of Pakistan," shows clearly that their national foundation is built on the Islamic religion. On the whole, Pakistan is closed to Christianity and is opposed to the presence of missionaries there. The Aga Khan has even instructed the people not to listen to foreigners.

Prayer Points

Sunday - Pray that the Lord will raise up labourers who are willing to invest long term service as missionaries to the Burusho people.

Monday - Pray that the Pakistani Christians will gain a vision to see the Burusho people reached with the Gospel.

Tuesday - Pray that the small number of Burusho Christians will be strengthened and protected. Pray that God will give them the courage to stand up boldly for the cause of Christ.

Wednesday - Ask God to raise up trained workers who can develop a written language for the Burusho; and also for qualified men and women to translate the Bible into Burushaski.

Thursday - Pray that the Pakistani government will be favourable toward Christians and will allow them to freely preach the Gospel.

Friday - Pray for cooperation among missions agencies that are targeting the Burusho people.

Saturday - Pray that a strong church will be raised up among the Burusho  - our God is the God if the impossible! Pray for the Burusho people to experience the glory of Christ through the Word. Pray that they will know His grace and truth, and share it with others.

The Kimr of Chad and Sudan

FROM 21-04-2013 TO 27-04-2013

Kimr People Group

The Kimr tribe is one of several belonging to the Tama cluster of languages and ethnic groups along the border of Chad and Sudan.

All of the Tama tribes are Muslim. They adhere to Islamic teachings and practice the traditional Muslim ceremonies and festivals. Many of the tribes also mix animism and witchcraft with their Islamic practices.

Because of the sandy, hilly topography and the shortage of rain and groundwater in Sudan, the primary livelihoods of farming and breeding cattle are extremely difficult.

Modern schools are not available in most Tama regions, and education is limited to the Islamic schools attended by the Tama boys. Some elite families send their children to schools in France, Britain, or other Western countries. Those highly-educated Tama tend to hold administrative positions in their society.

Prayer Points

Sunday- Ask the Lord to send labourers into Chad and Sudan to share Christ with the Tama.

Monday - Pray that the Kimr would be released from the spiritual principalities and powers keeping them bound.

Tuesday - Pray that key leaders, both in the Sudanese government and among the Kimr, would be saved and boldly share the Gospel.

Wednesday - Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to the Kimr through dreams and visions.

Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Kimr toward Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Thursday -  Pray for translation of the Bible to begin in this people group's primary language.

Friday - Pray for the availability of the Jesus Film in the primary language of this people.

Saturday – Prayer will be the key to a breakthrough among the Kimr and other groups of the Tama. Will you commit to pray for these needy people until a church is established among them? Ask the Lord to raise up a team of intercessors to prepare the ground for harvest!

Would you like to know more about opportunities to serve among people groups like the Tama? Contact WEC via the ‘connect’ page and ask for information about Chad or visit the WEC Chad website:

http://chad.wecinternational.org/

The Kho of Pakistan

FROM 14-04-2013 TO 20-04-2013

The Kho of Pakistán

The Kho make their home in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan, and most live in the upper valleys, where farming is very difficult due to the dry, rugged mountain terrain.

The heart language of the Kho is Khowar. It is spoken in homes and villages, and through it, children receive their informal education about the customs, traditions, values and beliefs of Kho society. Khowar’s oral tradition is full of beloved poems and songs, passed down from generation to generation.

Even in primary school, most instruction is done in Khowar. By middle school, though, children are taught Urdu, the primary trade language. Arabic, the language of the Qur’an, is also taught in schools, and English is added at the secondary school and college levels.

The Kho are 100% Muslim and very resistant to outsiders and to the Gospel. Because they live so far from any major city, accessing them is difficult and will take significant effort and great perseverance.

Prayer Points:

Sunday - Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of people that are very resistant to the Gospel.

Monday - Pray that the Lord will raise up laborers who are willing to invest long-term service among the tribes of northern Pakistan.

Tuesday - Pray that the Kho people will receive dreams and visions of Jesus.

Wednesday - Pray that the Pakistani believers will gain a vision to see the Kho reached with the Gospel.

Thursday - Pray for open doors among the Kho for the Gospel to be preached

Friday - Ask the Lord specifically for breakthroughs among the Kho people, and that they will ponder questions like ‘Does God still speak today?’

Saturday - Remember that Pakistan is going through a VERY difficult time just now, our prayers will make a difference. Pray for justice and righteousness and peace in this land.

Syria

FROM 07-04-2013 TO 13-04-2013

Prayer for Syria

• The United Nations reported in early January that more than 60,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad troops, the Free Syria Army (rebel forces) and innocent civilians. One rebel agency says that total includes more than 3,500 children, but that is not confirmed by the U.N.

• As of Jan. 2, more than 1.2 million Syrians have been displaced within the country, according to the U.N.

• The U.N. High Commission for Refugees reports approximately 700,000 Syrians have fled the country into places such as Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. The pace of those leaving has increased rapidly. The Associated Press reported last week a wave of 21,000 Syrians moved into already crowded, often dangerous camps in northern Jordan.

• Four million Syrians inside the country need food, shelter and other aid, according to the U.N.

Since the civil war started in Syria, life in the country has become increasingly difficult. There is danger all around from both sides. Also, due to the international boycott of the country, there are food shortages, high prices, electricity cuts and a lack of gasoline.

Prayer Points:

Sunday - Murder, kidnapping and criminality are rife. Christians besieged in their homes are struggling without heating, medical aid, food and water. The condition and whereabouts remain unknown of two priests, Fr Michel Kayyal (Armenian Catholic) and Fr Maher Mahfouz (Greek Orthodox), who were kidnapped by rebels on 9 February while travelling from Aleppo to Damascus. Please continue to pray that denominations long wary of each other will stand as one in Christ and care for one another.

Monday - Glorious God we pray for the nation of Syria.

We ask for your mercy.
We pray for children who have lost parents and parents, children.
The voiceless, who sleep to the rhythm of their tears.
For all those who are chained by fear, O God please bring peace.
Lord, we pray that you may raise up peacemakers and those with generous loving hearts.
We ask that you may give discernment and wisdom to leaders and others with influence, that a road of peace may be found.
May justice flow and bring healing to this land.
For the honour of your name,
Amen.

Tuesday – Pray for the safety of those fleeing the country. Pray that families will not lose each other as they travel.  Pray for those helping the relief effort in neighbouring countries

Wednesday - Not a day goes by when Mariam doesn’t mourn for her beleaguered country. The 30-year-old fled to Jordan from Syria nearly two years ago and now lives in a tent her brother made from scraps of material other people have thrown away. ‘Every morning I wake up and grieve,’ she says. ‘I cry over the ruins of my country. ‘We fled to Jordan because we had nothing to lose in Syria but our souls. Everything at home was destroyed and burned down. The whole situation was intolerable. ‘We had snipers everywhere, at every corner.  We needed to survive, to seek a safe haven, so we travelled to Jordan.’ Mariam escaped among a group of 20-30 other refugees, taking 13 hours to leave Syria. She now lives with her brother and his wife in extremely basic conditions. Pray for Mariam and many others like her.

Thursday - God of Compassion,

Hear the cries of the people of Syria,
Bring healing to those suffering from the violence,
Bring comfort to those mourning the dead,
Strengthen Syria’s neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees,
Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms,
And protect those committed to peace.

Friday - God of Hope,

Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies,
Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria,
And give us hope for a future of peace built on justice for all.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Prince of Peace and Light of the World,
Amen.

Saturday - Thank God for his unending grace and willingness to bring light and healing from dark situations. Pray for wisdom and perseverance for those seeking to help refugees. Continue to pray for the hundreds of thousands still in refugee camps or temporary accommodation. Pray for provision of food and shelter. Please pray for those who remain in Syria amid the violence. Pray for their safety. Pray for a turning point in the conflict; that God would change the hearts of those at war and bring about peace.

The Turka

FROM 31-03-2013 TO 06-04-2013

Turka of Burkina Faso

Population: 37,000

Religion: Islam

The 9^th of September 2012 was an important day for Papa Job. On this day, this Turka man made a special fire. He had decided to burn his idols who had dominated him for so many years. Some Christians from the local Church joined him for this very important moment and are ready to assist him on his way with Jesus. Will his wives and children also come to trust the Lord? Let’s pray for them.

The majority of Turka in the southwest of Burkina are Muslims with an underlying foundation of Animism which influences their whole worldview very strongly. There are about 200 adult believers among the Turka and in half of the sixteen Turka villages there is no Christian witness to be found.

Prayer Points

Sunday – pray for wisdom for those ministering amongst the Turka

Monday – Pray for more long-term workers. How will they hear unless someone is willing to go?

Tuesday – Pray for intercessors who will commit to pray for the Turka. Could you be one of them?

Wednesday – Pray that the gospel radio recordings would continue to open hearts to Jesus.

Thursday – Pray that some Turka men would respond to the call and become pastors of their own people.

Friday – Pray for those Turka who follow Jesus that they may be faithful and burdened to share their faith with other Turka.

Saturday – Pray for whole families to come to faith in Jesus.

Kazakhstan 4

FROM 24-03-2013 TO 30-03-2013

Praying for Kazakhstan

24 – 30^th March Prayer Points:

Sunday -  Forgiveness of sins is a powerful concept for Kazakhs.  Pray that they would repent and accept God’s forgiveness.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  I John 1:9

Monday -  Pray that Kazakh believers will be able to make Christianity culturally appropriate and not feel like a Russian religion which many perceive it to be.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  * Let your gentle spirit be known to men.  The Lord is near.  * Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God.  * And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  * Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”  Philippians 4:4-8

Tuesday -  Pray that love between Kazakh believers would be strong, drawing the lost to Christ.

“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”  Philippians 2:1-4

Wednesday -  The translation of the Kazakh Bible was completed last year. May it be placed in the hands of many Kazakhs and breathe life and salvation into their families.

Your word I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”  Psalm 119:111

Thursday -  A new, very restrictive religious law was put into place in October 2011 and came fully into force in 2012. May it be enforced in a gracious way that does not squelch the church, but truly allows for the freedom to continue growing.Because of the new religious law it is illegal for unregistered people to share the gospel. Many believers are afraid to speak of Christ.  Pray God would raise up many Daniels to stand strong and obey His command to spread the Good News.

“Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.”  Proverbs 3:3-4

Friday - Whether churches have received re-registration (required under the new religious law) or not, may there be a new thrust of evangelism. Pray that the believers in government positions would not live in fear of losing their jobs, but instead be a bold testimony to those around them.  May God prosper them in their work.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

Saturday -  With technology and the internet becoming more available, pray God uses these to bring truth into the lives of the Kazakhs. Pray for the North East part of Kazakhstan. This is where they did nuclear testing and the area is still very polluted. Pray for the people still suffering from this that they would experience God’s healing and that it would be undeniably from Him. Pray for the other Turkic Muslim people groups in Kazakhstan – Tatar, Uighur, Uzbeks, Karakalpaks.  May there be a move of God in these communities that tend to be more Islamic than Kazakhs.

May God raise up more laborers for this harvest field – both locals and foreigners.

Would you like to know more about Kazakhstan and how to pray? Go to ‘connect’ on the menu bar and click on ‘WEC’

Kazakhstan 3

FROM 17-03-2013 TO 24-03-2013

Keep praying for Kazakhstan

17 – 23^rd March Prayer Points:

Sunday -  Pray against the spread of false religions that seek to trap Kazakhs.“You shall have no other gods before me.”  Exodus 20:3

Monday -  Pray for village Mullahs (Muslim leaders) that God would turn them to Jesus and break down these local strongholds. Pray for church movements to erupt and make inroads to unreached Kazakhs - both the more traditional Muslims and those who have absorbed more Russian culture.

Tuesday -  Pray for single Christians.  There is great family pressure to marry young and quickly.  May they trust God for a believing spouse even if it means waiting and upsetting the family. Pray that believers would stand strong in their jobs and will not compromise godly values despite the intense pressures they face.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify you Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

Wednesday -  Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast and seek God.  Pray they truly find Him and be changed forever. Pray that the seeds of the Gospel which have been sown amongst the Kazakhs will take root and bear much fruit.  May blinded eyes be opened. Pray the Kazakh believers truly hunger and thirst after God.

“As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for You, O God.”  Psalm 42:1

Thursday -  As the economy has greatly improved recently, many are consumed with materialism.  Pray that Kazakhs would look to God and not to money.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but store u for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not beak in or steal; for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

Friday - An “Ak-Sakal” (white-beard) is an older man who is highly respected by all.  Pray that many Ak-Sakals will become believers. Kazakh men seem to be more resistant to the Gospel than women.  Pray that many more men will give their lives to God.

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”  Colossians 3:17

Saturday -  Pray against the bondage to ancestor spirits.  Most Kazakhs feel a strong obligation to honor and fry bread for deceased family members. Pray for a dissatisfaction in the hearts of Kazakhs that causes them to seek and find God.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  ‘ Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13

Kazakhstan 2

FROM 10-03-2013 TO 16-03-2013

A month of prayer for Kazakhstan

10- 16^th March Prayer Points

Sunday -  Because of their Shamanistic background, Kazakhs are sensitive to visions and dreams.  Pray for God to use these strongly. Pray against the bondages that many Kazakhs are trapped in: Islam, spiritism and ancestor worship. Pray that the lie that Kazakhs must be Muslims would be completely crushed.  May Kazaks turn to Christ!

Monday -  Pray that the president and other influential people would turn to the Lord.

Tuesday -  Pray that God would raise up good godly Kazakh leaders for the church.He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

Wednesday -  Pray for a fresh zeal in the Kazakh believers to share the Good News. “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

Thursday - The “dombra” is the Kazakh traditional 2-stringed musical instrument.  An “Aitis” is a music competition where 2 dombra players are given a topic and must create verses on the spot.  Pray that many musicians would become believers and share God’s love through their songs.

Friday - Many new believers face persecution from their families for “rejecting” their ancestors and family beliefs.  Pray they would have the faith to stand. Pray for more freedom for believers to worship unhindered in Kazakhstan.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  II Chronicles 7:14

Saturday -  Kazakstan is roughly half Kazakhs and half Russians.  Their cultures are very different.  The Russian-dominated churches have a hard time reaching traditional Kazakhs.  May God give them fresh desire and vision for how to reach out to Kazakhs.

Kazakhstan

FROM 03-03-2013 TO 09-03-2013

Praying for Kazakhstan

From now until Easter weekend we will be praying for Kazakhstan, joining with many others all over the world who have committed to pray for God’s glory to be seen in this country.

Kazakhstan has a diverse population of 76 people groups making up the total population of some 16 million people. It is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, largely due to oil and mineral reserves. Although there has been a multiparty democracy since independence from the USSR in 1991, the one and only president has continues his authoritarian rule and elections have been tainted with accusations of rigging.
Under Communism all religion was suppresses. Today, only the traditionally recognized groups can operate freely. Increased Islamist agitation has caused the government to continually consider increasingly oppressive religion laws. These laws subsequently have an effect on the newer and more active Christian denominations and can be used to limit, restrict and even persecute Christians.

3 – 9^th March Prayer Points:

Sunday -  Kazakhstan is the 9^th largest country in the world.  Pray that churches will multiply and spread throughout the land to every city and village. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  Acts 16:31.  Pray that whole Kazakh families would turn to God!

Monday -  Pray that the students who travel to the big cities for university would accept the Lord and take the Good News back to their villages. ”Let no one look down on you because you are young, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”  I Timothy 4:12

Tuesday -  Pray that God would provide escape and healing for the many addicted to alcohol and drugs.  May their families also be full of love, strength and forgiveness. ”For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” “II Corinthians 10:3-6

Wednesday -  Pray that God’s Spirit would teach 1^st generation believers how to value and have strong godly marriages.  “Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself and the wife must respect her husband.”  Ephesians 5:33

Thursday -  Pray that the families and relatives of Kazakh believers will come to faith. “You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…..You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:37,39

Friday - Pray that God would give believers wisdom and strength in forsaking all for Jesus, yet still honoring their parents and culture. Pray that Kazakh men would embrace the Lord and lead their families to Him.

Saturday -  Pray that God would reveal to Kazakh muslims that His Son Jesus is the only way to salvation.

“For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.”  I Thessalonians 1:9

The Kunjra People of India

FROM 24-02-2013 TO 02-03-2013

The Kunjra People

The Kunjra people live in the Indian state of Bihar, which is one of the most caste-conscious states among Sunni Muslims. Religiously, the Sunni caste system is significantly different from the Hindu caste system. The Muslim caste system not only assigns social status based on birth, it also generally restricts a person to a traditional occupation or role. Within this caste system, the Kunjra are, in general, of a lower caste and have historically been fruit and vegetable sellers or farmers. They are also mostly illiterate. They are a significantly large group and prefer to marry among themselves.

From what can be discerned, there are no known believers among the Kunjra. They have not rejected the Gospel; they simply have never heard it. Very little is known about the Kunjra people, so prayer will be critical in bringing the Good News of the Messiah to them. There are more than 1.6 million Kunjra in Bihar state.
(This information was supplied by Frontiers)

Prayer Points:

Sunday - Pray for more information to be learned about the Kunjra. God created these people, He loves them, and He died for them – they need to know that!

Monday - Ask God for committed workers to live among the Kunjra to share the love of Christ with them.

Tuesday - Ask the Lord to raise up prayer teams for these peoples.

Wednesday - Bihar is India’s poorest state and the second highest for population density. Pray that the liberating, saving, restoring gospel of Christ might find the suffering millions of Bihar.

Thursday - Bihar has long been known as ‘the graveyard of missions’, presenting many obstacles to the Gospel. There is strong spiritual opposition and persecution of religious minorities by the Hindu majority. Pray that the Lord might demonstrate his powerful passion and love for the people of Bihar through an unprecedented surge of ministry to these needy people.

Friday - The Kunjra are part of a Muslim population of 16.5 million. They are almost entirely unreached with the gospel. Pray for the church worldwide to take up the challenge to pray and to go.

Saturday - Pray for the spiritual darkness in Bihar to be lifted and for the protection of workers who would go.

Source: Frontiers, OW, 30 Days of prayer for the Muslim World

The Kashmiri of India

FROM 17-02-2013 TO 23-02-2013

The Kashmiri of India

The Kashmiri live in Kashmir State in northwestern India. Kashmir is a breathtaking region located in the western Himalayan Mountains. Unfortunately, this is a highly disputed area. It has been a battleground between India, Pakistan, and China since the partition of the India and Pakistan in 1947.

When India and Pakistan were divided, Kashmir was given the choice of siding with either of the two countries. Since the ruling class was Hindu, they sided with India. However, most of the people were Muslims and felt more alliance to Pakistan. Today, parts of Kashmir are controlled by India, parts by Pakistan, and parts by China; and fierce fighting continues among the three.

More than ninety percent of Kashmir is mountainous. It includes the Karakorum Range, which contains K2, the second highest peak in the world. Most of the region is under snow and glaciers all year due to its extreme elevation.

What are their lives like?
Most of the Kashmiri are peasant farmers. They raise rice, wheat, maize, barley, lentils, and fruits such as apples, peaches, and apricots. The lakes of Kashmir supply many fish and water chestnuts. Sheep, goats, and yaks are raised at higher elevations. These flocks produce cashmere, a rich wool that is also very popular in the West. The men primarily tend to the farms, and the women usually stay home and tend to the household chores.

Because most Kashmiri villages lie in such remote areas, festival celebrations and pilgrimages to shrines are times for uniting the communities. The villagers enjoy gathering around a fire and sharing folk tales or ballads. They also enjoy music and dancing.

The Kashmiri are very hospitable people and enjoy entertaining guests over tea. Their diet is similar to that of other Indians. Wood, dung, and kerosene are the main sources of fuel for cooking.

In addition to farming, many of the Kashmiri are skilled crafters of wood furniture, wool carpets, and sweaters. Industrial development is limited in Kashmir, but the large number of timber forests and rivers are used for producing hydro-electric power. Tourism is also an important industry, although it has declined in recent years because of the violence in the region.

What are their beliefs?
Most of the Kashmiri are devout Sunni Muslims, who follow a strict code of conduct. Their civilization has been heavily influenced by Muslim mystics and Persian culture. Only a small minority are Hindus.

The Kashmiri Muslims are convinced that the Bible is wrong because it contradicts the Koran. Christians in this region are often persecuted. Many Kashmiri have heard of Jesus Christ, but view him merely as a prophet and teacher.

What are their needs?
Today, there are less than 1,000 known Kashmiri believers. These precious people who live in a highly volatile area of the world need to meet the Prince of Peace.

Prayer Points
Sunday - Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through intercession. Change will only come about through prayer.

Monday - Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favour to missions agencies focusing on the Kashmiri.

Tuesday - Pray that the God will give the Kashmiri believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.

Wednesday – In the fighting in Kashmir more than 40,000 people have lost their lives and more than 800,000 have been displaced. Pray that those who use terror and violence would be thwarted and that wisdom and justice would prevail.

Thursday - Pray for the effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Kashmiri. Pray also for Christian radio broadcasts in several languages specific to the region.

Friday - Ask God to soften the Kashmiri hearts towards the Gospel of Christ. May more and more seek an alternative to the violence and extremism which has been their way of life – and fine peace and hope in Jesus.

Saturday - Pray that God will give these precious people a revelation of who Jesus truly is: their Lord and Christ. Ask the Lord to bring forth a triumphant Kashmiri Church for the glory of His name!

The Shaikh of India

FROM 10-02-2013 TO 16-02-2013

Shaikh (Marathi) People Group

The Marathi Shaikh are primarily found in the state of Maharashtra in western India. Though the majority of the Marathi people practice Hinduism, there is a significant Muslim minority numbering over 2.4 million.

The state of Maharashtra is the third largest in India in terms of land area and second largest in terms of population. The state’s capital is Mumbai (formerly Bombay), the largest city in India and the nation’s economic capital, a fact that largely contributes to Maharashtra’s status as the wealthiest state in all of India.

The majority of Marathi Muslims belong to the Sufi sect of Islam, which includes many mystic and folk practices. For example, visiting the tombs of Sufi saints is very important, as is the ritualized practice of remembering the divine presence through incense, meditation, and entering into trances.

Prayer Points:

Sunday - Pray for doors to be opened for the Marathi Shaikh to hear about Christ.

Monday - Pray for workers to live long-term among the Marathi.

Tuesday - Ask the Lord to bring the Gospel to the Marathi in a way that is beautiful to them as Sufis.

Wednesday – There are around 12 million Muslims in Maharashtra state, including 2 million in Mumbai. There is a lack of outreach, of workers, of awareness of their needs and of Scripture in their languages and dialects. Cry out to the Lord for these peoples.

Thursday – Mumbai has the second-highest Christian population of India’s megacities. Pray that Christians may be salt and light in their city.

Friday – Human need and suffering in Mumbai are great. There are 200,000 victims of the sex trade, over 100,000 street children and nearly 300,000 AIDS cases. The slums especially are rife with crime, pollution, disease, poverty, unemployment and, too often, hopelessness. This city is in need of our prayers. Pray for transformed hearts and lives by the power of God.

Saturday – Thank the Lord that Indian Christians are taking up the challenge to reach the unreached. There are now more than 175 agencies and churches reaching out in Maharashtra state. Any yet there remain 40,000 unreached villages. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out many more workers.

Sources: Frontiers, Operation World.

The Bhatiara of India

FROM 03-02-2013 TO 09-02-2013

Bhatiara People Group

The name “Uttar Pradesh” literally means “northern province” and was given to the state at the time of India’s independence in 1950. UP, as it is known, borders the country of Nepal to the north and is home to the cities of Agra and Varanasi, which annually draw multitudes of tourists.

UP boasts the second largest economy in India, and though much of it is due to tourism, agriculture still sustains the state’s economy.

Islamic influence in northern India began around the end of the 12th century, and today there are more than 35 million Muslims in the state of Uttar Pradesh, making them the largest minority within the state’s mostly-Hindu population.

• Prayer Points

Sunday - Ask the Lord to raise up workers who will bring the truth and love of Christ to these people who currently have no witness among them.

Monday - Pray for God to show Himself to the Bhatiara and for the Gospel to move forward with power among them.

Tuesday – The scale of human need and suffering in Uttar Pradesh is immense. Cities are crowded and polluted. Rural areas have no amenities, little infrastructure or power, and a severe shortage of health care facilities. Water-borne diseases are widespread. Pray that the gospel might be made manifest in easing suffering and righting wrongs.

Wednesday – Give praise for the growing awareness of and focus on Uttar Pradesh and its great needs among a multiplying number of churches, mission agencies and prayer networks, both national (in India) and global. Pray for effective and Christ-honouring cooperation and partnerships.

Thursday – There are over 35 million Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. There is a history of violence between them and the Hindu majority. There are a few believers among these muslims but not many. Pray for a breakthrough.

Friday – Were Uttar Pradesh its own country, it would have the third-largest unevangelised population in the world. There are 191 people groups that are unengaged (no one even trying to reach them) and unreached (no church accessible to them). According to the most recent census, 579 of 613 people groups had no Christians at all. The awesome immensity of the unfinished task should drive us to our knees!

Saturday – Think of how often you have heard the gospel, how many bibles you have available to you in your own language, the other resources you have to help you grow as a Christian. Thank the Lord for those, then pray for Uttar Pradesh where so many have no access to the gospel at all.

Want to know more about serving among Unreached Peoples in different parts of the world? Go to the ‘Connect’ page and contact WEC!

India

FROM 27-01-2013 TO 02-02-2013

Praying for India

Where else in the world can you find over 150 million Muslims as the minority religion?

Only in India! Where else can you find over 400 different Muslim people groups, based on occupation, geographical location or shade of Islamic believe?

Only in India!

India is Accessible

Yet even with these facts considered, many Christians around the world seem to ignore or give scant attention to, the needs of this huge group of Indian Muslims.

We can also say that the Muslims of India are perhaps the largest accessible Muslim population in the world. This is due in part to India’s pluralistic framework and secular constitution. Opportunities for open Christian witness abound and there are open doors for many kinds of Christian ministry.

Islam was introduced to India by conquest and grew through the successful efforts of Muslim missionaries and high birth rates. Today India is the second largest Muslim nation in the world.

Hour of Opportunity in India

Some of the largest Muslim people groups in India include the Bengalis, the Biharis, Jat, Pathan, Julaha, Shaikh, Rajput, Kashmiri, Ansari and the Labbais.

Sadly, there are perhaps not more than 150 workers (including both Indians and expatriates) in full time witness to Muslims. There are some very encouraging developments happening, however, with more unity between churches and organisations reaching Muslims in India. There are also continued reports of Muslim leaders receiving visions and dreams of Jesus!

It is the hour of opportunity for the Muslims of India – may we not miss it!

Prayer for the Muslims in India:

Sunday -  Pray for the religious freedom in India to continue. It is under threat from certain groups in the nation.

Monday - Pray that the Muslims of India would each have an opportunity to hear, and see, the Gospel in a culturally relevant way.

Tuesday -  Pray for the many large indigenous Indian Missions organisations, that they will “tithe” some of their people for Muslim work.

Wednesday - Pray for continuing and new training initiatives to train workers and church planters for Muslim ministry.

Thursday - While Bibles are available in most major languages, there are as yet almost no Bibles in the dialects of the Muslim people. There is strong opposition against the translation of the Bible into the most common Muslim language, Muslim Urdu dialect. Pray for a team to be formed to overcome this opposition and complete the work of Bible translation (Psalm 119:49).

Friday - Ask God to break the stronghold of prejudice that keeps Indian Christians from reaching out to the Muslim population around them. Ask that they would be burdened for the Muslims, even those in their own neighborhoods.

Saturday - Pray through Psalm 107:14-16 on behalf of the Muslims of India. Ask that God would deliver them out of darkness and break off all that binds them.

Sources: 30 Days of Prayer, OM, Operation World.

The Sundanese of Indonesia

FROM 20-01-2013 TO 26-01-2013

The Sundanese of Indonesia

The Sundanese are one of the largest groups of people yet unreached for Christ. They live in the western portion of the Indonesian island, Java.

Although the Sundanese speak their own language, called Sunda many also speak Javanese. They are culturally similar to the Javanese, but set themselves apart by personality. They claim to be more open and informal than the Javanese.

Historically, the Sundanese culture has remained somewhat isolated. While the cultural influences of India were spreading across Southeast Asia in earlier times, they had little effect on the orang gunung (mountain people) of Java.

Islam was first brought to Java in the fifteenth century by Indian traders who were converted on their trade routes. Muslim influence soon spread from the ports to other areas of the island.

What are their lives like?
To be Sundanese is, ideally, to be a rice farmer. Unfortunately, many of the villagers do not own enough rice land to provide for their daily needs. Because of this, nearly all of the villagers engage in small trade, crafts, seasonal farming, or service occupations. Besides rice, other crops grown on dry land include corn, root crops, chili peppers, and tobacco. Coastal areas tend to have mixed economies of rice, fishing, and/or fish farming.

Sundanese villages contain between 1,000 and 7,000 people, and the houses lie clustered together. Homes are often built up on poles or stilts. The villages are separated by small agricultural fields.

What are their beliefs?
Although the Sundanese have been practicing Muslims for a long time, the true principles of Islam have only been taught since World War II. As a result, many of their pre-Islamic practices have been altered and carried over into their Islamic beliefs. For example, many of the spirits that they formerly worshipped have been incorporated into Islam by giving them Islamic names and meanings.

What are their needs?
While the Sundanese have been evangelized to some degree, very few have actually been converted. Some Christian broadcasts are available, but the Bible has not yet been fully translated into their native language.

Prayer Points

Sunday - Pray against the spiritual prinicpalities and powers that have kept the Sundanese bound for many generations.

Monday - Ask the Lord to raise up people who understand the Muslim culture and who can effectively share Christ with the Sundanese.

Tuesday - Pray that God will send Christian teachers to influence Sundanese children with the Gospel.

Wednesday - Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the few Sundanese Christians.

Thursday - Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to complete translation of the Bible into the Sunda language.

Friday - Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Sundanese towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Saturday - Pray that God will open the hearts of Indonesia's governmental leaders to the Gospel. Ask the Lord to raise up a strong local church among the Sundanese.

The Madurese of Indonesia

FROM 13-01-2013 TO 19-01-2013

The Madurese of Indonesia

The Madurese are the third largest people group in Indonesia. Although they formerly inhabited the island of Madura, the eastern portion of Java, and the Kangean Islands, most of them now live scattered throughout other parts of Indonesia. This is due to the fact that they previously participated in a government-sponsored "transmigration program." Though the Madurese are a devout Muslim people, they also practice various forms of sorcery and magic.

Most of the Madurese that live on the island of Madura have grouped themselves together in farming settlements. Very few of the people in Madura make their living solely as farmers; the climate there is very arid and the soil is infertile. Instead, many raise sheep, goats, and cattle, some are fishermen, and others transport goods to various markets by boat. Supplemental income is often acquired by the production and trading of crafts.

Although most of the Madurese are Sunni Muslims of the Shafi sect of Islam, their religion is actually a mixture of very different belief systems. To ensure good luck and success, they have incorporated various forms of sorcery and magic into their Islamic practices.

There are some missions agencies currently working among the Madurese; however, work permits are becoming harder and harder for Christian personnel to obtain.

After a century of intermittent missionary work and outreaches in Indonesia, the Madurese remain unreached. There are actually several Christian churches located in the city of Surabaya (eastern Java), but they have not been able to reach the Madurese. Some of these churches have been burned to the ground and many of the believers have been persecuted by the Madurese Muslims.

Pray:

Sunday - Pray that persecution of Christians will cease and that they will be allowed to freely preach the Gospel.

Monday - Ask God to raise up loving Indonesian Christians who are willing to share the Gospel with the Madurese.

Tuesday - Ask God to raise up trained laborers to complete translation of the Bible into the Madurese language.

Wednesday - Ask God to call Christian medical teams to work among the Madurese.

Thursday - Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Christians living near or among the Madurese. Pray that they will remain steadfast in their commitment to the Lord.

Friday - Ask God to eliminate the difficulty for Christians to obtain work permits.

Saturday - Pray for the establishment of strong local churches among the Madurese.

The Bajau of Indonesia

FROM 06-01-2013 TO 12-01-2013

The Bajau of Indonesia live primarily on the islands and in the coastal districts of Sulawesi. They generally live in settlements near Manado, Ambogaya, and Kendari; on the Baggai, Sula, and Togian Islands; along the straits of Tioro; in the Gulf of Bone; and along the Makassar coast.

What are their lives like?
Among the decreasing number of boat dwellers, local Bajau communities consist of scattered groups composed of families whose members regularly return to a common anchorage site.

The houseboats vary in size and construction. In Indonesia and Malaysia, they average about ten meters in length and two meters wide. All of the boats are equipped with roofed living areas made of mats supported by poles. They also have portable clay hearths that are used for preparing family meals.

The boat dwelling Bajau see themselves as non-aggressive people. As a result, the politically dominant groups of the region have historically viewed the nomadic boat dwelling Bajau with disdain, considering them timid, unreliable subjects.

What are their beliefs?
The Bajau are Sunni Muslims of the Shafiite branch.

Among the boat-dwellers in particular, community spirit mediums are assembled at least once a year for a public seance and nightly trance dancing. In times of epidemic illness, the mediums are also called upon to remove the spirits causing illness from the community. They do this by setting a "spirit boat" adrift in the open sea beyond the village or anchorage site.

What are their needs?
Although there is currently one missions agency working among the Bajau, very few of the boat dwellers have accepted Jesus as their Savior. Very few Christian resources are available in the Bajau language. More evangelistic tools and additional laborers are needed to minister to these precious people.

Prayer Points

Sunday - Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to work among the Bajau of Indonesia.

Monday - Pray that God will reveal Himself to the Bajau through dreams and visions.

Tuesday- Ask the Lord to soften their hearts so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.

Wednesday - Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Bajau bound.

Thursday - Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.

Friday - Pray that Christian radio broadcasts, evangelical literature, and the Jesus film will be made available to the Bajau.

Saturday - Pray that God will raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into Bajau. Ask the Lord to establish strong local churches among the Bajau.

The Acehnese of Indonesia

FROM 30-12-2012 TO 05-01-2012

The Achehnese of Indonesia

The Acehnese  live on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra in the Aceh province, Indonesia.

One of the chief cities in this province, Banda Aceh, is commonly known as "the doorway to Mecca" or "the front porch of Mecca." Historically, Banda Aceh has been a stopping place for Muslims journeying by ship to Mecca, the "holy city," in Saudi Arabia.

The Acehnese are primarily Muslims.

What are their lives like?
The Acehnese are not as poor as are those in many other parts of Indonesia. Most families are agriculturists. Their diet includes rice served with meat, fish, or vegetables. The meat is usually water buffalo, beef, or chicken; pork is forbidden to Muslims.

Acehnesian households are run by the women. Men have no say in matters that deal with the home or even child rearing! All of the children, even the youngest, are expected to help the family work. Only men may inherit material assets, such as money or a business; but houses and land are always passed down to the women.

The Acehnese speak their own language, but also speak Indonesian as a second language. More than half of the adults can read the Indonesian language. Many people also speak a third language, any one of several minority dialects of Acehnese.

Aceh is the only province in Indonesia where Islamic law applies. This law exercises very strict control over the society and is rigidly enforced.

The Acehnese are fierce enemies with their southern neighbors, the Bataks, and have fought off and on with them throughout the years.

What are their beliefs?
The Acehnese are strict Sunni Muslims and have been very instrumental in the spreading of Islam throughout Indonesia and other parts of southeast Asia, often at the point of the sword. It is often stated that to be Acehenesian is to be Islamic.

In spite of their dedication to Islam, many Acehenese are still influenced by "animistic" ideology (belief that non-human objects have souls) and various superstitions.

There are some small groups of non-Acehnese living in Aceh who practice Buddhism, Hinduism, and even Christianity.

What are their needs?

Only portions of the Gospel have been translated into the Acehnese language. They desperately need the light of the Gospel; only it can pierce the darkness that surrounds them.

The Acehnese are very resistant to Christianity; some are openly hostile. From 1979 to 1981 more than ten church buildings were burned and more than fifty Christians were killed in the Aceh province. (The victims were non-Acehnese who were living in the area.)

The Acehnese believe that their land is holy and that Christians living there only pollute it. Any Acehnese person who openly confesses his belief in Christ will be killed. As a result, very few missionaries serve there.

There are fewer than 300 known Christians among the Acehnese. Islamic law is strictly enforced and puts tremendous pressure on these believers.

Prayer Points

Sunday - Ask the Lord to send qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Acehnese language.

Monday - Pray that God will strengthen and encourage the small number of believers living among the Acehnese. Pray for His protection over them from physical harm.

Tuesday - Pray that God will raise up qualified laborers who can effectively cross the Muslim cultural barriers.

Wednesday - Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to the Acehnese that believing in Christ will give them life.

Thursday - Pray that the hostility towards Christians will cease and that they will be allowed to freely preach the Gospel.

Friday - Pray that the non-Acehnese Christians living in Sumatra will be given open doors and opportunities to share Christ with the Acehnese.

Saturday -  Ask the Lord to raise up intercessors who will commit to pray for the Acehnese, and keep praying until a church is planted amongst them.

Indonesia

FROM 23-12-2012 TO 29-12-2012

Indonesia

Once called the Spice Islands, Indonesia, the fourth largest nation in the world, is a nation in which it is impossible to make generalisations. Spanning the equator, it is an archipelago of over 13,500 islands divided into 27 provinces. The people of Indonesia represent hundreds of languages and cultures and religions. Traveling from one area of Indonesia to another one will experience a diverse range of foods, music, dance and sport. From lush rice fields to active volcanic slopes, (Indonesia has approximately 700 volcanoes, 220 which are still active) from deserted beaches to crowded city streets, the complexity of Indonesia should never be underestimated.

Developments in Indonesia

Recent laws in Indonesia, such as having to carry an identity card, and the legacy of the trans-migration scheme, have done little to unify this vast and diverse nation. Indeed, many believe that these new laws have created ethnic tension in previously quiet regions.

Rapid urbanisation has meant that now an estimated 40% of the entire population live in massive cities particularly on the island of Java with Jakarta, Surabaya and Jogyakarta.

Indonesia is the Largest Muslim Nation

As the largest Muslim nation in the world, Indonesia is one of the greatest challenges to missions today. There are literally thousands of villages and towns throughout Indonesia that are 100% Muslims with no Christian witness. Yet, throughout Indonesia, particularly in the cities, there are large churches and the Body of Christ is growing rapidly.

Pray:

Sunday - Pray for those in leadership in Indonesia. For government officials, for police and military chiefs, for heads of tribes and households.

Monday - Pray for those who have lost family members and homes, either through ethnic violence or because of natural disasters, that God would bring comfort.

Tuesday -  Pray for those enduring economic hardship. Ask God to open doors for Christian workers to create employment opportunities.

Wednesday - Ask that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction upon Muslim and non-Muslim ethnic groups who may be retaliating against recent massacres in the name of God. (Zechariah 4:6)

Thursday – The church in Indonesia really wants to reach out to those who have never heard the gospel. Pray for the development of training programs and support networks.

Friday - Natural disasters – earthquakes, tsunamis and flooding – since 2001 have killed close to 200,000 and rendered millions homeless or displaced. Sumatra is the hardest hit. Indonesia lies in a geologically volatile region, which, combined with high populations and poor infrastructure, make future tragedies inevitable. Pray that Christians, both national and expatriate, may use these disasters as opportunities to demonstrate the compassion of Christ.

Saturday - Migrant workers from Indonesia to other nations, numbering 400,000 legal migrants and many more illegal ones. While there are highly educated and skilled migrants among them, many workers provide mostly unskilled domestic labour; they number over 80% female. Though their remittances garner for them the title of “foreign-exchange heroines”, they often are paid poorly and are subject to abuse. Their lonely and often difficult situations open them up to loving witness by Christians.

Join us next week to pray for one particular people group in Indonesia!

Tibetans

FROM 16-12-2012 TO 22-12-2012

Tibetans

In all the world, there is no other place like Tibet. This mysterious land is larger than the states of Texas and California combined, and is unique for its altitude, extreme weather, vast pastureland and distinct form of Buddhism. Tibet is home for some of the oldest people groups in China, and has drawn spiritual seekers for centuries. Unfortunately, the truth of Jesus Christ has been kept out of the land for hundreds of years.

The Tibetans are one of the 55 minority people groups of Mainland China. According to the 2000 census, there are about 5.4 million Tibetans in China, with about half in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Tibetans are also found in the provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan. They are called Zang inside China.

The Tibetans are Lamaist Buddhists. Buddhism began to be firmly established in Tibet around 620 AD, with the main Buddhist missionaries coming from India.

Christianity and Lamaism are diametrically opposed, so Tibet has strongly resisted Christianity for centuries. Many mission agencies worked diligently in this difficult land prior to its closing in 1949.

Although relatively few Tibetans responded in that period, some house churches have recently developed in several key Tibetan areas with the total number of Tibetan Christians in all three major dialect groups now numbering in the hundreds.

The Bible was translated into Tibetan script in 1948, but this specific dialect is now understood by very few Tibetans, so new works are in progress. Scripture portions and evangelistic materials ranging from written tracts to the Jesus film and other video and audio CDs are now being distributed.

Sunday – Father God, we thank you and praise you for the  emerging house churches in all three dialect areas. May their faith be infectious and their fellowship mission-oriented. May they be like an oasis in the desert, bringing life to their communities.

Monday – Jesus, the True and Living Word, thank you that Scripture portions are now available in Tibetan dialects. We praise you God also for the availability of the Jesus film in Tibetan and for the power of the gospel message, which can surmount all obstacles and cultural boundaries. Jesus, who opened the eyes of the blind, reveal yourself to Tibetans so that they will know that you are the Son of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Tuesday – Almighty God, we pray that Lamaist Buddhists in Tibet would come into contact with Christians, and that You God, would work great miracles through seemingly insignificant exchanges. You healed a woman who touched the hem of your garment Jesus – may your power flow through Christians in every encounter they have with Tibetans.

Wednesday – Father we pray for the ongoing production of accessible Christian resources and for their distribution. May their use not only lead to true conversion but also encourage Christian discipleship and maturity.

Thursday – We ask You Lord, the Good Shepherd, to care for the small, but growing number of Christians in Tibet – may they be given courage, strength, wisdom and vision.

Friday – Jesus, Prince of Peace, we pray for a peaceful resolution to the Tibetans’ struggle for independence. We pray for those in positions of power, that they would truly desire the best for those they lead.

Saturday – Father God, we pray for safety and wisdom for Christians working in the area. Help them Lord, as they learn the language and culture, to have insights into how they can share Your love with those around them. Thank you that you love the Tibetan people and have promised to build your church among them.

Uncategorized

FROM 12-12-2012 TO 31-12-1969

Balkan Gypsies

FROM 09-12-2012 TO 15-12-2012

Balkan Gypsies

The Balkan Gypsies are also known as the Balkan Romani. They are located in parts of Eastern Europe including Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, and the Ukraine. There is even a significant community in China. Gypsies are the largest stateless people group that exist. Many times, the population count of Gypsies are inaccurate due to their nomadic lifestyle. Others do not possess identity cards because they fear discrimination or persecution.

In the past, Gypsies were not allowed to own land, so they began developing unique occupations which they still do today. These included such things as fortune-telling, horse trading, market vending, entertaining, acrobatics, and metal and wood working. They are especially known for their musical abilities and dancing. Many sing and play instruments at weddings, baptisms, and festivals. Unfortunately, they are also known as beggars and thieves. Petty theft (usually by children), begging, and black market peddling sometimes provide families with income. This reputation has caused much discrimination against them. In many countries, they are last in line for jobs. Some of the women work as domestic helpers, but are paid very low wages and given no health benefits. Many have insufficient housing and unsatisfactory medical attention.

Sunday - Pray that this people who have been rejected and discriminated against will find love and acceptance through Christ.

Monday - Ask the Lord to raise up people who are willing to share Christ with the Balkan Gypsies. Although they may be wealthier, more educated, and have more opportunities than Gypsies in the Middle East and India, they all have one thing in common: the need for Jesus. Prayer and evangelism efforts are needed in order to win them to Christ.

Tuesday - Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Gypsies towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel. Pray that wounds from the past would be healed so that barriers to the gospel can be broken down.

Wednesday - Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Gypsies who have become Christians. Pray for discipling of new believers so that they will grow in their faith.

Thursday - Pray that God will give the missions agencies strategies for reaching the Gypsies. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers to reach the Balkan Gypsies.

Friday – Pray for the Church in countries where the Balkan Gypsies live, that Christians would be moved with compassion to reach out to the ‘Roma’ in their communities.

Saturday – Praise the Lord for ‘Roma’ language gospel programs on radio in Bulgaria and praise Him for the response to these. Pray that the seed being planted will take root and produce fruit.

Source: IMB, Joshua Project

The Basques

FROM 02-12-2012 TO 08-12-2012

The Basques

Three million Basque live in the northern part of Spain (2.7 million) and the southern part of France (300,000). While the people traditionally made their living as fisherman and sheepherders, much of their wealth today stems from the industry that is so much a part of Basque Country. Basque culture is rich in tradition, with games and strongman competitions that have made them famous throughout the world. They are, however, one of the least-evangelized people groups in Western Europe, with less than 1 % of all Basques identifying themselves as believers. This is partly because the geography and language of Basque Country have separated the people from the rest of Europe. Their borders include the Pyrenees Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, isolating them from the rest of Spain and France. While French or Spanish is the commercial language, their heart language is Euskara.  Euskara is a very old, pre-Indo-European language, unlike any other language known to man. The Bible and the JESUS film are both available in Euskara. The Basque people will often tell you that they are Catholic, but they also add that they are non-practicing Catholic with no relation to the church.

There is a desire among some Basques to have their own country. E.T.A. is a group of freedom fighters or terrorists who have killed around 900 people in the past fifty years in an attempt to force that break-away from Spain. E.T.A. declared a permanent cease-fire in  2011. Many are hoping that that initial decision will lead to the disarming and disbanding of E.T.A. so that this region can pursue their desires by political means and free from the cloud of violence. The truth is that there has been much violence in the past 150 years throughout Spain and now much healing and much genuine forgiveness is needed.

Sunday - Praise God for the growth of the evangelical church within Spain. Pray for greater numbers of native Spaniards and certainly greater numbers of Basque people within the Basque Country.

Monday - Pray for a greater understanding of the need to reach out to the Basque people in their own language, euskera, so that in time, Basques could reach out to other Basques in culturally relevant, Basque forms.

Tuesday - Pray for the missionaries within the Basque Country who are searching for strategies and ministry models to reach the Basques in their own language. Ask the Lord to send more workers to this needy region.

Wednesday - Pray for a renewal among the Catholic Church of Basque Country and Spain - certainly God can bring renewal and revival. Pray for a hunger for the Word of God to grip people and for the Spirit of God to move in the hearts of those who are even just ‘cultural’ Catholics.

Thursday - Pray for a new movement of prayer, the International Day of Prayer for the Basque Country, that it would capture the hearts of intercessors around the world. We believe that prayer can change things! Let’s pray for many to stand together in unity to pray for a church amongst the Basques.

Friday - Pray that God would call Basque believers to Himself who would feel a keen burden to share that same "good news" with other Basques around them.

Saturday – Pray for the development of worship music using traditional Basque instruments and musical styles.  The Basque culture thrives on the arts – pray for those using music, drama and mime to explain the Gospel. Ask the Lord to give them wisdom and insight, and that people will respond.

Sources: WEC Spain, Joshua Project, IMB

Spain

FROM 25-11-2012 TO 01-12-2012

Spain

Many people have an image of Spain as a very religious country, and in a manner of speaking this is true. For centuries religion has formed an integral part of Spanish society.

But for most Spaniards, their view of “Christianity” is of a religion full of rituals and duties. They have little concept of a personal relationship with God.

The fact that there has been a massive exodus from the traditional church in recent years indicates that this is no longer satisfying their needs. Instead many are seeking fulfillment in materialism, the occult, cults and drugs.

The people of Spain need to know that there is a real alternative amid the rapid changes that are gripping this nation.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Less than 0.2 % of Spain’s 44 million people are evangelical Christians.
• In the last two decades the number of Spanish Catholics has dropped by 20%.
• There are more Jehovah’s Witnesses in Spain than all the evangelical believers combined.
• Most of the Evangelical churches are not growing with Spaniards but with the recent influx of Latin American immigrants.
• The Evangelical church is regarded by many as a sect.
• Over 1/3 of Spaniards (15 million) have no evangelical church in their locality.
• Every 7 minutes an abortion and every 4 days a marital murder

Sunday – Father we pray for Spain today, a country in crisis economically, but also spiritually. Jesus we pray that people will wake up to the lies that have blinded them to the truth of the gospel. We pray for social renewal which will bring transformation to communities in Spain.

Monday – Lord Jesus, we pray for those who follow You in Spain, that they would be filled with love and power and wisdom as they seek to share the gospel with those around them. Thank you Lord for the growth of the church amongst immigrants, but Father we pray for an evangelical church which would be truly ‘Spanish’.

Tuesday – Lord of the Harvest, will you send more workers to Spain, and call Spanish Christians to be involved in the Harvest, going to areas which are least reached such as Extremadura, Galicia, Asturias and the Basque Country.

Wednesday – Jesus we pray today for the cities of Ceuta and Melilla on Morocco’s north coast. We pray Lord that believers living in these cities would have courage and wisdom as they share with the majority Muslim population, and that these cities would become beacons of light to the whole of North Africa.

Thursday – Jesus, living and reigning One, reveal yourself in dreams and visions to the 2 million Muslims living in Spain. Jesus you are shaking the nations and moving the peoples of this earth. Help Your church in Spain to respond to the opportunity they have been given to share the truth with peoples who are moving into their towns and cities from all across North Africa. We pray O Lord, for Muslim hearts to be opened and for believers in Spain to reach out in love.

Friday – You are the One who satisfies, Lord, You are the One who brings meaning to life, and we pray for the many lives which have been ruined because of drug addiction in Spain, that they will turn to You. Thank you Lord for the work of Betel (http://www.betelinternational.org/), for the lives which have been transformed as people have seen You break the chains of addiction and set them free. Keep using Betel for your glory.

Saturday – Heavenly Father we pray today for the Basque people, without a single evangelical church using their language. O God we pray that the centuries-old suspicions and fears, and the reserve of the Basque people, may be broken down, and that You would build your church among the Basques. (More on the Basques next week!)

Sources: WEC Spain (http://wecspain.org/), Operation World

Qatar

FROM 18-11-2012 TO 24-11-2012

Qatar

Qatar is an absolute monarchy ruled by the Emir, Sheikh Hamad Al  Thani, who deposed his father in 1996 in a bloodless coup. Under the progressive leadership of the Emir, Qatar is developing quickly.

Qatar’s population has more expatriate than local citizens. Of its roughly 1.6 million people, only about 250,000 are Qatari nationals.

The strict Wahhabi sect of Sunni Islam is dominant in Qatar, but there is also a small number of Shi’ite Qataris. Many Shia have become successful businessmen, but they are not prominent in government, for reasons of security and/or prejudice.

Because of the influence of Wahhabism, Qatar has one of the most conservative societies in the world. While expatriates enjoy quite normal  lifestyles, the Qatari society is far more restrictive, especially  for the local women.

Christianity has been tolerated in Qatar (among the expatriates) for some time, as long as Christians keep their faith to themselves. “Unofficially”, churches have been allowed to exist for a long time. Recently, after the government granted permission and land for a church complex to be shared by several churches, there is now a Church Compound, ringed with State Security,  that hosts all denominations of Christian gatherings - Catholic and Protestant. This represents a far more lenient and tolerant attitude by the Qatari government than was known a decade ago. It also makes watching Christians easier since the house churches are becoming fewer.

Due to past (and present) restrictions, Qataris have had very little exposure to Christian truth. Most Qataris have never met a real Christian with whom they could communicate at a meaningful level. This is beginning to change. Still, many Qataris had no idea that Christians worshiped in their land until State leaders attended the opening of the large Catholic Cathedral, witnessed in all the daily newspapers, five years ago.

Prayer Points

Sunday - Pray that God would give birth to a local Church and national leadership within Qatar.

Monday - Pray that the Bible, other literature, and videos would find its way into the hands of Qataris and that Christian media (satellite TV, radio, Internet, etc.)  would have greater impact.

Tuesday - Praise that the Church Compound exists and is growing. Pray that God would mobilize the thousands of expatriate Christians here to pray for Qataris and to reach out to their Muslim friends.

Wednesday - Praise that the Compound forces numerous and varied fellowships to work closely together to make the Compound a place of worship and fellowship. Pray for continued and greater unity amongst them so they’ll know who we are in Jesus by our love.

Thursday - There is only a handful of “known” local believers, most of whom are not spiritually mature. Pray that they would be strengthened, discipled and used of God.
Pray that God would break the spiritual pride that Qataris have concerning Islam and prepare their hearts for the message of the Gospel.

Friday - Pray for God to grant Christians greater favor with the Qatari It seems that the Lord is creating a “new atmosphere” in this strict Wahhabi Muslim country.

Saturday - Pray turmoil in the Middle East would shine the light on the truth. And on the Life.

Source – PTAP website

Jains

FROM 11-11-2012 TO 17-11-2012

Jains

“These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires.” – Colossians 2:23 (NLT)

Jains typically believe in the concept of god, but do not believe in one Supreme Being who is creator and caretaker. Rather, they believe that a human can become god and that salvation, which they see as release from the cycle of reincarnation, comes through renunciation of physical attachment and practicing right faith, knowledge and conduct.

The major Jain communities are in India (4.5 million), but there are also groups in Europe, the USA and Canada. 

Prayer points:

Sunday - Father, there are so few Jains who follow Christ, and with over six million people following the Jain religion, the task of evangelism seems overwhelming. Please raise up intercessors who will faithfully commit to pray for the Jains’ salvation. Call out your chosen servants to carry the Gospel to these precious people.

Monday - Awesome God, you created the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. Yet, Jains do not believe in a creator God, nor in heavenly beings that would have anything to do with earthly beings. Plant in their hearts and minds a seed of doubt about these views. Show them through the majesty of your creation that you are God, and that you cared enough about your created people to send them a Savior. We pray that Jains will question their own views on creation, resulting in an openness to the Gospel.

Tuesday - Jesus, Jains believe they are responsible for their own salvation. We pray they will understand their helplessness and that they will seek salvation from you, the only source of everlasting life.

Wednesday - Holy Lord, we pray that when Jains compare the truth as they understand it with the truth of your Holy Word that their eyes and minds will be open to perceive the real Truth. Show them that they will only find the right faith, the right knowledge, and the right conduct as they enter a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thursday - God of the Nations, we pray that Jain-background believers will continue to live as Jains as far as it does not compromise their faith or witness, so that they may be able to reach other Jains with the Gospel.

Friday - Almighty God, we praise you for the few known Jain-background believers scattered around the world. Thank you for showing them that they are not the only ones! We pray that as others come to faith in Christ they will receive encouragement and training in how to reach their families, friends, and other Jains.

Saturday – Lord of the Harvest, raise up more workers to take Your Word of Truth to the Jain, to share Your love with them so that they would find salvation through a living relationship with Jesus. Raise up those who will pray persistently for the Jains.

Source: IMB

India

FROM 04-11-2012 TO 10-11-2012

India
 

Any mention of India is sure to conjure up an array of mixed impressions, and the country truly defies generalization. The large nation is home to a vast array of cultures, religions and ethnicities that at times clash but most often blend to give India its unique identity.

India is often called the “Land of Contradiction,” and just one look into a typical Indian neighborhood will show you why. The tarp tents of migrant workers are strung up against the immaculate walls of modern apartment complexes. Camels, cows and elephants wander the streets amidst the dense traffic. Recently, a growing fixation on materialism and worldly success has swept the country, bringing with it even greater disparity.

Prayer points:

Sunday - Jehovah Jireh, we pray that South Asian Indians will understand that true success and contentment is not measured in material wealth but in knowing Christ as Lord.

Monday - God of Nations, bring about changes in India’s government that result in more favourable stances toward Christians. Put more Christians in positions of power and influence.

Tuesday - Lord, we delight in India’s diversity! Encourage unity among Your children as an example of being salt and light while embracing cultural differences.

Wednesday - Prince of Peace, stir peoples’ hearts to be dissatisfied with false religions. May Your children in India give a clear witness to how You alone bring peace and satisfaction.

Thursday - Light of the World, let the Gospel light shine in every city, village, home, and family of India, to the glory of God the Father. Holy God, help Indians learn how to fight corruption and to look for men of integrity and moral lifestyles to emulate.

Friday - Jesus, bring revival to Your church in India. Defeat territorialism and indifference to sin. Cleanse the church of non-biblical traditions. Thank you for states where the church is strong. Give those churches a vision to reach out to areas where Your name is not known.

Saturday - Consuming Fire, statistics reveal that one out of every ten people on earth is an Indian under the age of 25. Let this generation blaze with passion for You. Jehovah Rapha, heal India of all social ailments, including poverty, substance abuse, depression, suicide, hopelessness, and child abuse.

Source - IMB

Sri Lanka

FROM 28-10-2012 TO 04-11-2012

        

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island nation off the southeast coast of India. Because of the abundance of water, fishing is a common occupation among Sri Lankans. Unfortunately, the 2004 tsunami destroyed not only fishing vessels, but miles of coastline as well. Many Sri Lankans are still struggling to recover from that devastation.

Since 1972, Sri Lanka has been in a civil war between government forces and ethnic Tamils fighting for an independent state in the north of the country. The fighting has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people in this ongoing conflict. An official cease-fire was declared in 2002 and remains in effect, though periodic violence still occurs.

Sunday:  Jesus, You have called us to be fishers of men. When the 2004 tsunami destroyed fishing vessels and miles of coastline in Sri Lanka, the fishermen there were devastated. Lord, send Your fishermen throughout Sri Lanka to offer hope for eternity in place of despair over worldly setbacks.

Monday:  God of all nations, the government of Sri Lanka has declared that Buddhism is their national religion. Too many people believe that gives them the right to persecute Your disciples. I pray that Sri Lankan Christians will remember that You have not given them “a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Tim 1:7 NASB). Help them to boldly declare their faith in Jesus.

Tuesday:  All-seeing God, You know Sri Lanka’s Tamil people struggle with identity and are often treated as outcasts. Open their hearts to receive Your compassion and to know that they have great value in Your sight. Reveal Jesus as the One who gave Himself so their sin-price would be paid.

Wednesday:  Loving Father, I pray for those who persecute Your church in Sri Lanka. May they see and hear the testimony of Christ’s followers and realize that these believers have a power, peace  and joy found only in Christ. May the believers’ lives cause their persecutors to want to know Jesus.

Thursday:  Lord, Sri Lankans believe strongly in karma - that whatever befalls them, good or bad, is just their lot in life and they cannot change it. Flood their hearts and minds with the Gospel until they accept Your grace and their belief in karma is replaced with faith and obedience to Your Word.

Friday:  Holy Spirit, too many pastors in Sri Lanka want to build bigger churches rather than build God’s Kingdom. We pray today that Sri Lankan pastors will begin to see themselves as bridge builders – helping connect the lost of their country to our loving Heavenly Father through the Gospel. Help them find a true sense of unity as they study Your Word and fellowship together.

Saturday: Holy God, I pray today that You will give Your people the courage to testify as Paul did, “For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him” (1 Cor. 8:5-6, NASB). Send Your Holy Spirit to prepare the way for the cleansing and salvation of the people of Sri Lanka.

Source: IMB

The Tatar

FROM 21-10-2012 TO 27-10-2012

     

The Tatar
are a Turkic people group scattered through Central Asia and the republics of the former Soviet Union. There are almost seven million Tatar living in twenty different countries. They are liberal Muslims but their view of Christianity has been scarred by their forced conversion in the past by the Russian Orthodox.

Sunday – Unlike other people groups, the Tatar do not establish their own distinct communities in the places they have relocated. Pray for the challenges and opportunities this presents for Christian workers trying to reach them. Pray they will find effective ways to both find and reach the Tatar with the good news.

Monday – Although most Tatar remain only nominally or culturally Muslim they still hold to the belief that to be Tatar is to be Muslim. Pray that they would understand and come to accept the truth of Jesus’ sacrificial love for them.

Tuesday – Ask God to heal the wounds of the past and bring reconciliation between Russians and Tatars. Pray that that the forced conversion by the Orthodox Church in the history of the Tartars would not be a hindrance to their receiving the message of the Gospel today.

Wednesday – Pray for the few scattered believers. Pray that they will grow and stand strong in their faith. Many experience opposition and even threats by religious leaders and family members. Pray for the church that is forming in some communities that it will be grounded in vision and mission.

Thursday – Pray for the completion of the Tatar Bible. Pray that it would be well distributed, read and understood by the Tatar people. Pray that the Jesus film and other media resources would find their way into homes.

Friday – Pray for more Christian workers to respond and be willing to live and work amongst the Tatar. Pray for these workers to learn the language and customs of the Tartar. Pray also for more intercessors to pray for these workers and take the needs of the Tatar before the throne of grace.

Saturday – An ancient saying of this people group states, “If you want something done, give it to a Tatar!” Let’s pray that the day will come when the Tatar will eagerly take the message to others in the Muslim world.

Lebanon

FROM 14-10-2012 TO 20-10-2012

  
LEBANON

Lebanon, an Arab country with a large Christian population, has endured years of civil war and continual unrest. About 60% of Lebanon is Muslim with about 32% Christian, with many deep religious divisions within both these groups.

Sunday – Despite all its troubles, Lebanon still remains the only country within the Middle East where people can legally change their religious affiliation. Believers from other Arab countries can more freely come to Lebanon for Christian training. Pray for this religious freedom to be maintained.

Monday – Pray for the Christians, in this land, that have been traumatized by years of unrest. Many have lost loved ones, and many have seen friends and relatives immigrate. Pray that the remaining Christian community will be able to forgive and experience Christ’s healing.

Tuesday – Pray for the Orthodox and Catholic churches. These churches continue to have high attendance and growth. Pray for new life to spring up with in these traditional churches. Pray for the key religious leaders that they will personally meet with Christ.

Wednesday – Most Christians would leave if they had the chance, pray for many to choose to stay and remain salt and light in Lebanon. Pray that churches would continue to grow in missions and be willing to reach out across religious barriers.

Thursday – Pray for the many Christian ministries within Lebanon. Pray that the Christian schools, orphanages, youth clubs and media ministries would continue to be used and effective. Pray that Bible schools would be filled with students who will be grounded in the Word and equipped to meet the needs of the church.

Friday – Pray for the Shi’a Muslims who are growing in influence and fanaticism. Many are motived by anger and fear. Pray that they will become disillusioned with a religion without hope. Pray that Christ will reveal Himself to them through dreams and visions.

Saturday – Pray for the peace of this land. As the civil war in bordering Syria continues, pray that Lebanon would not be drawn in. Pray that Christians will reach out with the love of Christ towards the many refugees that are entering Lebanon.

The Dungan

FROM 07-10-2012 TO 13-10-2012

              The Dungan

The Dungan of Kyrgyzstan are ethnically Chinese with a mixture of Russian and Muslim cultures. There are about 106,000 Dungan and about half are found in Kyrgyzstan. Most Dungan are farmers and live together in well organized villages made up of collective farms.

Sunday – The older Dungan are religiously strict and observe Islamic law, but the younger are more indifferent. Pray that the Lord would reveal Himself through dreams and visions to the older generation. Pray that the younger, who are more open, would discover the ‘Injil’ and come to know the Jesus of the Gospels.

Monday – Pray that God would open more doors to reach the Dungan. Pray that those who the Lord is calling to work amongst the Dungan would find creative ways to enter the country and be able to remain in the country.

Tuesday – There is only a few known believers among the Dungan found mainly in neighbouring Kazakhstan. Pray that they would be steadfast and growing in their faith. Pray that they would be bold witnesses and known in their communities for their honesty, integrity and faith.

Wednesday – Pray that the Lord would raise up more workers and prayer teams for the Dungan. There is a need for many more to intercede for the Dungan people. Pray too that there would also be those willing to go and live amongst these people that Jesus loves.

Thursday – Pray for the Kyrgyz and other local Christians to invite their Dungan friends to church and to be bold enough to share God’s peace with those who seek it.

Friday – Pray for the completion of the Bible translation in the Dungani language. Pray also that Christian literature and media would reach their homes and that the message would penetrate their hearts.

Saturday – Pray for a vibrant and strong local church to rise up among the Dungan. Praise God that one day many Dungani will worship before His throne.

Somalia

FROM 30-09-2012 TO 06-10-2012

Somalia

This week we will be praying for Somalia. Drought, famine, war and interethnic struggles have left this land destitute and poverty stricken. Over 99% of the population is Muslim with only 0.01% Protestant.

Sunday – Most Somalis are subsistence farmers and many have livestock. The depletion of the land from overgrazing, drought and war has caused much poverty. Pray for the Christian relief agencies as they share Christ’s love through word and deed.

Monday – Pray for this lawless country where many attempts to restore law and order have failed. Lawlessness has brought in many bandits and terrorists. Pray that the “transitional” federal government (TFG) would be supported by all. Pray that they would govern wisely, with justice and righteousness for all people.

Tuesday – Pray against the spread of fundamentalist factions and their radical rule over people. Pray that the government (TFG) would stand against the imposed Sharia law with its lack of freedom. Pray for the protection of Aid workers as they try to assist the people.

Wednesday – Pray for the struggling church. Christians are greatly despised and often targeted, and murdered, especially converts from Islam. Pray for those who are secret believers. Pray they will grow in faith and in vision standing firm during these days of persecution.

Thursday – Since 1972 the door for missions has been closed. Pray that Christian workers would find creative ways to enter Somalia. Many relief agencies have Christians working for them. Pray that they will be salt and light to this very dark land.

Friday – Pray for Christian radio, television and internet websites that target Somalis. Pray that they will be far-reaching and well maintained. Pray that the messages will reach into homes all over Somalia. Pray that God would reveal Himself to the Somali people through dreams and visions.

Saturday – Pray for the Somali diaspora, with about six million living as refugees in surrounding countries. Some mission agencies are seeking to reach these Somalis and many are responsive to the gospel. Pray that strong Christ center churches will be planted among the Somali.

Source – Operation World

The Maldives

FROM 23-09-2012 TO 29-09-2012

Maldives

The economy of the Maldives is dependant on tourism and fishing. It has a poor record on human rights but since elections in 2008 there has been an improvement with limited freedoms. However, those freedoms don’t extend to the religious sphere. Islam is the only recognised religion, with the open practice of all other religions being forbidden.

Sunday – The fragile ecosystem of the Maldives is threatened by rising sea levels that could flood and destroy. The 2004 tsunami and the 2008-2009 economic down-turn demonstrated how fleeting life on these islands could be; pray that his would cause many to seek eternal assurance obtainable only through Christ.

Monday – Behind the facade of island paradise lies a darker reality. Freedom of expression and belief is strongly curtailed. The Maldives has one of the highest divorce rates in the world, there is rising crime and gang activity, and probably 70% of teens use drugs on a regular basis. Pray for the light of the gospel to shine into the lives of Maldivians.

Tuesday – Beyond Islamic beliefs lies a widespread adherence to pre-Islamic occult practices called ‘fanditha’. Pray for the Spirit to bring truth into the lives of those who have been deceived.

Wednesday – The Maldivians are still among the least evangelised on earth. Neither mission work nor Christian literature has ever been allowed. The Western Media and the behaviour of many tourists have given a wrong perception of ‘Christians’. Pray for the true name and nature of Jesus to be made known in this nation.

Thursday – Persecution of believers is intense. Any Maldivian practicing Christianity can expect mockery, ostracism, incarceration and even torture. Pray for those who believe – for their protection, their courage in the face of great trials and for opportunities to grow in and spread their faith. On numerous occasions expatriate believers have been expelled, especially for sharing their faith.

Friday – Pray for the witness to Maldivians in other lands. Many travel outside the Maldives as sailors or students. There are Maldivian communities in Sri Lankan, Indian and Malaysian cities. Pray for those seeking to reach these communities.

Saturday – Only the gospel of Luke and Acts are available in the main language, Dhivehi. Pray for the progress of translation efforts and for ways people can freely access the Word. Pray for ways to import Scriptures and Christian literature, totally illegal at the moment. Take time to thank the Lord that you have His Word in your own language and pray for that same privilege for the Maldives.

Source: Operation World.

Eritrea

FROM 16-09-2012 TO 22-09-2012

Eritrea

Eritrea has struggled over many years with a cycle of war, drought and land destruction. Many Eritreans live on less than $1 US a day. Only four religious groups are recognised by the Government – Sunni Islam, Eritrean orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran. All other religious groups have been persecuted with increasing intensity since 2002, and even these officially recognised groups must endure government appointments and interference. Despite all this, the church is growing, especially a house church movement.

Sunday – Pray for peace and stability for Eritrea, especially with neighbouring country Ethiopia. The ongoing threat of war keeps many in extreme poverty with no relief in sight. Pray for just and wise actions by the international community and an end to the hostilities which neither country can afford.

Monday – Religious freedom remains a major issue. The Christian church faces terrible ongoing persecution. Many leaders and lay members are in prison, and more are under house arrest. Prison conditions are harsh – beatings and agonising torture techniques cripple many and even lead to death in some cases.

Tuesday – With so many pastors, leaders and evangelists now living outside the country or in prisons, the church moves forward under new leadership, often young men or new believers, some who encountered Jesus in prison. Pray for them to be full of God’s wisdom as they learn to lead and grow.

Wednesday – Missionaries, as such, are no longer welcome in Eritrea. Since 2002, almost all foreign aid workers, Christian and otherwise, have been expelled or forced to leave. Pray for open doors for workers to return to Eritrea; pray that those who do have access will move quickly , taking advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate God’s love.

Thursday – Pray for unreached peoples of Eritrea.  The Beja and Nara peoples of the northwest have no known witness. The Arab Rashiada, who migrated from Saudi Arabia in the 19^th Century.  Recent work among these peoples has been reported, but there is still no known church.

Friday – Pray for radio and satellite TV ministries. Some work has been closed down in recent years but Christian radio is able to continue to broadcast from neighbouring countries. Pray for the gospel to go forth through these channels; shortwave radio Bible studies reach even into the military camps.

Saturday – Jesus taught us to pray for ‘our daily bread’. As you thank the Lord today for the way He has provided for you, pray for many in Eritrea who are hungry today. Pray for the families of pastors who are in prison,  that the Lord would provide for all their needs.

Source: Operation World.

Bangladesh

FROM 09-09-2012 TO 15-09-2012

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is among the world’s poorest nations, suffering from gross over-population and periodic natural disasters. Poverty is endemic and seems impossible to overcome. Officially there is religious freedom but this is being steadily eroded by Islamist pressure.

Sunday – Bengali people are by far the largest unreached people in the world, numbering around 240 million. Pray for a breakthrough, for the trickle of those coming to faith to become a flood.

Monday – Religious discrimination and tension is rising. There is an increased threat of forced re-conversion by Islamist croups. Pray for binding of the powers of darkness operating in religious, social and ethnic realms.

Tuesday – The Rohingya Muslims have been in the news recently, with increased persecution of this group by Buddhists in Myanmar. As many as 250,000 of them are in refugee camps in Bangladesh. Pray for those seeking openings to reach them.

Wednesday – Over 50% of the population of Bangladesh have literacy problems. Pray for effective programmed that will combine literacy training with Scripture. Pray for initiatives in sharing the Bible orally through story telling and other means.

Thursday – Radio. Christian broadcasters transmit over 500 hours per week over shortwave, both in Bengali and minority languages. Pray especially for the production of suitable and sufficient programmes for the non-Christian majority.

Friday – Pray for leadership for the national church. Many pastors minister while holding down full-time jobs. Spiritually mature lay-leaders are also in short supply: pray for both renewal and training opportunities.

Saturday – There is a desperate need for Christian workers for Bangladesh. There are probably only 4 missionaries for every million Bengalis. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into the harvest fields of Bangladesh.

Source: Operation World

Albania

FROM 02-09-2012 TO 08-09-2012

Albania

Albania has been transformed in many senses since Communism fell in 1991, but it is still plagued by poor infrastructure, corruption and high emigration rates which hamper economic growth. Since religious freedom came in 1998 the church has grown, and currently the annual growth rate is 4.6% - praise the Lord!

But there remain many challenges. Join us in praying for Albania!

Sunday – Islam is the largest religion in Albania – perhaps as high as 70%. Superstition and folk Islam prosper. Pray for Albanian Muslims to encounter the living Christ.

Monday – There are still many towns and villages without any evangelical witness. Pray for the good news to continue to spread. Pray for committed church planters and those who are being prepared as evangelists.

Tuesday – Almost all mission agencies and national ministries combine practical and much-needed assistance with sharing the gospel. Pray for a profound impact from this love in action.

Wednesday – Pray for the unreached minorities in Albania. The Bektashi are a Muslim sect which incorporates folk religion and the occult. There are a few believers among the Bektashi, but pray for an outpouring of the Spirit on these people and a great turning to the Lord.

Thursday – Pray for the Vlach, a group related to the Romani Gypsy. This group is looked down upon by others. There are several agencies seeking to reach them. Pray for the Gospel to take root among the Vlach.

Friday – Over half of all Albanians live outside Albania. Their spiritual need is now greater than that of Albania itself. Pray for outreach to these groups.

Saturday – Pray for the work of Christian radio, and especially the desire to expand broadcasting to reach Korovo where many Albanians live. Pray for wider coverage so that people in more isolated areas may also be reached with the Gospel message.

Source: Operation World

Equatorial Guinea

FROM 26-08-2012 TO 01-09-2012

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa’s smallest countries, predominately Catholic with a mix of animism. In recent years it has begun to see transformation in economic growth through the discovery of offshore petroleum deposits. A small number of the country’s elite have enjoyed increased wealth, whereas the majority continue to live in poverty.

Sunday – Pray for President Obiang and his government. Sadly Equatorial Guinea has one of the worst human rights records in the world. Pray that there might continue to be religious freedom in the country.

Monday – Quick wealth has produced a large gap between the rich and the poor. Pray that the government and foreign companies, who are benefiting from the oil wealth, would be moved to share the wealth with those in need.

Tuesday – Most people in this Roman Catholic country would claim to be Christian, without accepting Christ’s saving grace, while they continue to practise animistic beliefs. Pray that the true Gospel of Jesus Christ would penetrate their hearts and minds.

Wednesday – Praise the Lord for increased mission activities and for the openness of the government toward these activities. Pray for those training leaders. There are now three training institutions. Pray also that the students would grow in their faith and become godly leaders in their communities.

Thursday – Pray for the growing number of missionaries from West and Central Africa as they work alongside indigenous leaders. Pray for unity, grace and humility as they work together.

Friday – The Fang are the majority people and dominate politically. Pray for the completion of the Fang New Testament. Pray also for the other indigenous languages that need updated translations of scripture.

Saturday – Pray for the Hausa peoples of EG. They are staunchly Muslim and unreached with only 0.1% Christian. Pray that they will come in contact with true Christians that will share Christ’s love with them. Pray that the available Christian video and audio resources in Hausa will penetrate their hearts.

Burkina Faso

FROM 19-08-2012 TO 25-08-2012

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is one of the world’s poorest countries. Most of the people of Burkina Faso rely on subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to drought. There are 27 unreached people groups. 17 of these are Muslim. Although Islam and Christianity have made inroads, the power of the occult and spirit world still dominates the society.

Sunday – Pray that the power of Christ would challenge and break down the walls of idolatry, fetishism and sec ret societies. Pray for spiritual protection over the scattered churches. Many believers still live in fear of the occult and have not seen complete deliverance in their lives.

Monday – Pray for the church that is struggling in the areas of leadership training, discipling new believers and the pressures of living in a society that is mainly Muslim and animistic. Pray for godly wives for the young men who are becoming new leaders in the church.

Tuesday – Pray for godly church leaders that are willing to stand firm even during times of economic hardship. Despite many challenges in resources and training, pray that they will become a ‘God dependant and spirit empowered church’.

Wednesday – Praise the Lord that the church is beginning to take up the challenge of the growing HIV/AIDS crisis. Pray that they will receive the needed training and resources to meet this on-going challenge.

Thursday – Pray for the Gospel to touch the growing Muslim population that is affecting nearly every ethnic group. Pray that more churches and mission groups would reach out to the Muslim peoples of this land. Pray that the church will not respond with fear but with love and boldness.

Friday – Praise the Lord for the many nomadic Fulani people who are coming to Christ. Pray that they will stand against the persecution and exclusion from their own people. Pray for the plans to develop a Fulani language Bible school and training centres.

Saturday – Continue to remember the missionaries in Burkina Faso as their role is vital, providing help in many physical and spiritual areas. Pray for their protection and encouragement. Their work is hard and progress is slow. Pray that more will hear the call and respond to the needs of Burkina Faso.

Mozambique

FROM 12-08-2012 TO 18-08-2012

Mozambique
One of the world’s poorest countries, as a result of colonialism, 30 years of guerrilla warfare, the climate extremes of flooding and drought and the under-utilization of fertile land and mineral wealth. The country has been at peace since 1995 and has seen some improvement but continues to suffer natural disasters.

This week we would like to focus our prayers on the Muslims in the northern and coastal regions of Mozambique.

Sunday – Pray for the Makhuwa, a mix of Catholic, Animistic and Muslim peoples. They represent almost 40% of the population. Praise the Lord that many have come to Him and His saving grace. Pray for all the new believers to become strong and bold disciples of Christ.

Monday – The Yeo live along the shores of Lake Malawi. The Yeo are 96% Muslim. Pray for those believers who live among the Yeo that their lives will shine with the love of Christ. Pray also that Christian radio, literature and the Jesus film will find its way into hands and homes of the Yeo.

Tuesday – To be a Mwani today is to be a Muslim. Pray for this people group who live along the Northern coast of Mozambique. Most are illiterate and speak only a little of the national language, Portuguese. Pray for the breakthrough of the Gospel through the now available Jesus film, and the oral stories and recordings being used

Wednesday – Praise the Lord for the encouraging breakthrough among the Koti Muslims. There are about 1200 believers and about 20 churches. Pray that the Lord would strengthen the believers in their faith and give them boldness to share.

Thursday – The Makwe Muslims are a forgotten people living in remote places in the North of Mozambique. Pray that the Lord would break down the walls of resistance to the Gospel. Pray that the Lord would call those that would display the love of Christ among the Makwe in the areas of health, education, sport and social development.

Friday – The Ngoni are very much like the Makwe and known for their resistance to the Gospel. The few believers in the area have left because of social pressure. Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send out more workers as there are very few workers amongst the Ngoni. They also have needs in education, health and social development.

Saturday – Pray that God would reveal Himself to the Muslims of Mozambique through dreams and visions. Pray also for a softening of their traditional Muslim ways so that the Gospel may be freely preached. Pray that strong local churches would rise up among the Makhuwa, Yeo, Mwani, Koti, Makwe, Ngoni.

Chad

FROM 05-08-2012 TO 11-08-2012

Chad

Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa, is one of the poorest most corrupt countries in the world. It is made up of 141 people groups of which half are unreached. In this Muslim majority country most people live in poverty as subsistence herders and farmers. It also has one of the lowest literacy levels in the world.

Sunday                
There are more unreached people groups in Chad than any other country in Africa. Praise the Lord for an open door to Missions. Pray that this door will continue to stay open and that more will hear the call and dedicate their lives to building the Kingdom in Chad.

Monday  
Praise the Lord for the Muslims that are coming to know Him. There are groups of new believers beginning to multiple. Pray that the Chadian Arabic Christian radio and resources that are culturally appropriate will continue to reach the hands and ears of Muslims all over the country.

Tuesday
Pray for the government of Chad, which although noted for its violence and corruption, would continue to combat terrorism. Pray that the country would not become a breeding ground for terrorism.

Wednesday      
Pray against the hard line Islamic groups and nations that are sending missionaries, building mosques and threating the freedom of the Christian church. Pray that Christians will take the opportunity they have now to lovingly share with their Muslim neighbours.

Thursday            
Pray that the churches in Chad will continue to grow and mature in their faith. Many mix Christianity with old beliefs, traditions and legalism. Pray that the Holy Spirit would revive the church and that believers would embrace their freedom in Christ.

Friday                  
Pray that the Christians of the south would bravely witness and share with their new Muslim neighbours. Many resent and fear the economic impact and influence of the Muslim communites moving south.

Saturday             
Chad suffers from low rainfall and severe droughts. Pray that Christian humanitarian groups will come and minister in Chad. Pray that people suffering from physical hunger will not only find food for the body, but also food for the soul.

Unreached Peoples - The Uyghur

FROM 29-07-2012 TO 04-08-2012

Uyghur

Sunday
There are more than 10 million Uyghur people living in northwest China.  In the 1930’s missionaries worked amongst the Uyghur and around 300 had become believers but in 1933 the missionaries were expelled and the Uyghur believers were executed. Pray that even now, after all these years, the seeds which were sown would bring fruit.

Monday
Despite the presence of many Han Christians in the province, few have a vision to reach the Uyghurs. One visitor reported, "Many [church] leaders openly acknowledge, without guilt or shame, that they do not have such a burden for these people." Pray that God would change the hearts of Han believers so that they are willing to share the Gospel with love and boldness.

Tuesday
There has been much political unrest in the region which makes sharing the Gospel even more difficult. Pray for peace, for the Lord to keep doors open for the Gospel, and for light to penetrate the darkness.

Wednesday
A complete Bible translation in Uyghur became available in 1939. The New Testament has been translated once again, this time into a modern-language version, and a new translation of the Old Testament is under way. The Jesus movie is also available. There are indications for an increasing number of Uyghurs turning to Jesus. Pray for the distribution and use of the Jesus film and the newly-translated Uyghur New Testament (Rom 10:17).

Thursday
Pray for the Lord to protect the Uyghur believers (about 200 known in China), and empower them for witness among their people (2 Thess 2:17; 3:3).

Friday
Pray for God to tear down the barriers that prevent the Uyghur from receiving the good news of Jesus' love and forgiveness.

Saturday
Pray that agencies working among the Uyghur would have God's wisdom to know how to effectively partner and strategize how to better reach the Uyghur. Pray that more opportunities would be developed so that more workers can enter.

Unreached Peoples - The Hani

FROM 22-07-2012 TO 28-07-2012

Hani

More than 600,000 Hani live across a wide stretch of land in the mountain ranges in southern Yunnan. The Hani population is expected to surpass 750,000 by 2010.

Sunday - The Hani language consists of three tones and five dialects. Differences with each of the major dialects "are relatively small, and speakers from the different sub-dialects can generally understand each other." A Hani Roman alphabet was introduced in 1957 but was never widely embraced by the Hani who today have a low literacy rate. Pray for literacy workers and skilled linguists to go and live among the Hani, to learn their language, teach them to read, and so be able to share the Word of God.

Monday - The Hani are a needy and poverty-stricken people. The central government ranked them the lowest of China's official minorities in a "quality of life index." The Hani scored 38.3%, compared to the national average of 62.7%. They also ranked last for infant mortality, with 107 of every 1,000 Hani children dying during infancy. The Hani life expectancy is just 58 years. Pray that Christians involved in health, development and aid will see the great needs amongst the Hani and look for ways of being able to help them.

Tuesday - The Hani have three major religious clergymen. The ‘zuima’ is a male from the oldest household who directs all religious activities. The ‘beima’ perform magic rites and exorcisms. Male and female ‘nima’ make predictions and administer medicinal herbs. Pray that these key people would have an encounter with the Living God and hunger and thirst to know more. Pray that they would have dreams and visions of Jesus that would cause them to seek Him.

Wednesday - The Hani have traditionally been one of the most gospel-neglected of China's minorities. The few efforts to evangelize them have been met with resistance. Because of the lack of gospel materials one writer notes, "Even if a Hani wants to hear about Jesus Christ, he can't, no matter how hard he tries." Stop and think about this for a moment. How many times have you heard the Gospel? How many bibles do you have in your home? Thank the Lord for the opportunities you have, and then pray for the Hani. Ask the Lord to break down the strongholds which prevent the Hani from hearing and responding to the Gospel.

 

Thursday – ‘How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ Romans 10:14-15. Who will go to the Hani?

 

Friday – Ask the Lord to raise up those who will go and share the gospel with the Hani. Pray for churches to hear about the Hani and send workers to them. Pray for intercessors who will have a burden to pray for this people group.

 

Unreached Peoples - The Dongxiang

FROM 15-07-2012 TO 21-07-2012

Unreached Peoples – Dongxiang

When we talk about a People Group being ‘unreached’ we mean that there are less than 2% evangelicals among that people, and that they have little opportunity to respond to the Gospel.

The majority of the more than 480,000 Dongxiang live in one long, spread-out valley in the southwestern part of Gansu Province. The Dongxiang region is a desolate, arid place with a moon-like landscape, even though it is bordered by the Tao River to the east, the Daxia River to the west, and the Yellow River to the north. Approximately 55,000 Dongxiang also live in the Ili Prefecture in Xinjiang and in parts of Qinghai and Ningxia.

Sunday-  The Dongxiang are one of China's official minority groups. They were called Mongolian Huihui prior to 1949, when their name was changed to the Dongxiang (East District) people. They call themselves by the Islamic term Santa. Other Muslims in China do not consider the Dongxiang to be a part of the Islamic faith because of their involvement in drug and prostitution rackets. One visitor to the Dongxiang described them as "very mean people, with hard faces." Pray that the Lord would reveal Himself to Dongxiang through dreams and visions and that they will see their need of a Saviour.

Monday - The Dongxiang speak a Mongolian language. "Quite a few words in the Dongxiang lexicon resemble words of the same meaning in Modern Mongolian, and some are even identical to words presently used in Inner Mongolia. Many other words are close to the Middle Mongolian spoken in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries." Only 12% of the Dongxiang are literate in Chinese. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to the Dongxiang, to teach them to read so that they can read the Word of God. Pray for translators to produce Christian materials in their language. The church in Mongolia is growing – ask God to give them a vision to reach out to the Dongxiang.

Tuesday - Not long after the Dongxiang first arrived in China, they were converted to Islam. By 1949, when the Communists took over China, there was one mosque for every 30 Dongxiang homes. The majority of Dongxiang belong to the Old Sect, which emphasizes worshiping at the tombs of Muslim saints. "The remainder belong to the New Sect, a fundamentalist and reformist group." There were numerous brutal wars between the two Dongxiang sects in the last century. Ask the Prince of Peace to come and reign in the hearts of the Dongxiang. Pray that they will have a hunger and thirst for the One who is worthy of our worship.

Wednesday - There has never been a single known church or Christian among the Dongxiang. In the 1940s some missionaries briefly visited the Dongxiang area but were unsuccessful in converting anyone to Christ. The nearest church to the Dongxiang is outside of their region but the Christians there believe "it is impossible to reach the Dongxiang." Pray that the Lord would give them a vision to cross geographical and cultural barriers in order to reach the Dongxiang.

Thursday – God’s Word says that there will be representatives from every tribe and tongue and nation worshipping before the Throne of the Lamb. That means that there will be Dongxiang there! Ask the Lord to raise up people who will intercede for this people group and commit themselves to praying until there is a vibrant Dongxiang church.

Friday – The majority of Dongxiang are farmers. Pray that they would see the love of their Creator God through what they see in nature, and they would seek to know Him personally.

Saturday – Pray for people to go and share the Gospel with the Dongxiang – people who can learn the language and culture, who will live among them and love them. Pray for creative ways to enter this area and live there.

Unreached Peoples - The Bunu

FROM 08-07-2012 TO 14-07-2012

Bunu

The Bunu are one of the largest people groups in China without a single known church. There are believed to be only a small number of scattered Bunu believers. The Bunu's complex ethnolinguistic diversity has kept them from hearing the gospel. "They consist of people from many language groups. Because of these language distinctions, it creates certain difficulties for evangelizing them. This means that different sets of Scriptures will need to be translated, different languages of the Jesus film translated, and so forth."

Sunday – pray for those who are researching how to reach the Bunu. It is a complex situation and there needs to be good cooperation between different interested parties. Pray for wisdom and discernment.

Monday – Ask the Lord to raise up intercessors who will commit to pray regularly for the Bunu. This is how breakthrough will happen. Pray for prayer material for this people group to be widely circulated and for Christians in other lands to become aware of the need and pray.

Tuesday – pray for Christians who are already working in this province and who are considering how they might reach the Bunu. There is a desperate need for more workers. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to the Bunu.

Wednesday – Because the language situation is so complex there is a need for skilled linguists and for those who can teach literacy to make a long-term commitment to this people group. There is also a need for Gospel materials in different forms – video, radio, Scripture recordings etc. Pray for these resources to become available.

Thursday – Pray for open doors for Christians to be able to live and work in this region so that the Bunu can be reached. Pray for visa opportunities, but also pray that Christians from other people groups and other parts of China would have a burden to reach the Bunu.

Friday – Pray that the Lord would reveal Himself directly to the Bunu through dreams and visions and that He will prepare their hearts to receive His Word.

Saturday – Cry out to the Lord for the Bunu. They need to hear of the God who created them, who loves them and who died for them. Who will tell them?

Mexico

FROM 01-07-2012 TO 07-07-2012

Mexico

Mexico is Latin America’s third largest country, and the world’s largest Spanish speaking country.   Even though  many reforms have occurred over the years, more are needed to modernize the economy and free it from the grip of elite, archaic land-tenure systems and institutionalized corruption. The insidious evil of the drug trade refuses to go away and is a more urgent issue than ever; much of the northern border region is under the control of well-armed and organized cartels.

Sunday - Praise the Lord for a steady growth of evangelicals (up to 8%), and increasing freedom for ministry and that the missions movement is beginning to blossom.  Pray for deep, personal relationships with Jesus.

Monday - Pray for some of the many socio-economic challenges that face Mexico:

The poor especially many who live in Mexico City, where about 80% of the millions in the capital are poor, living in desperate economic conditions, often amid great squalor. Christian ministry to them is fraught with difficulty and challenge. Few are prepared to commit themselves to it.

Tuesday - Corruption in politics and the police. Pray for a situation involving a camp property that was illegally “repossessed” in January by some local landowners. Pray for justice, patience with the legal system, and most of all that the Lord’s name be lifted up.

Wednesday -  The massive drug trade and gang violence that accompanies it. Pray for those trying to reach out to people trapped in this ‘living hell’.

Thursday - Pray for “The Rosary Belt”, a region in central Mexico consisting of Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Colima, Michoacán and Querétaro. This region is often called the 10/40 Window of the Americas by Latino evangelicals. Spanish colonial and religious influence is very strong here. None of these states numbers over 2% evangelical, and Querétaro is only 0.25% evangelical.

Friday - Pray for the many Indian peoples who are largely Catholic in name but pagan in practice.  Of 298 people groups, 15 are without a viable Christian witness, 98 have a church that still needs help to finish preaching the gospel in their group and a further five are inadequately researched. The complex syncretism, traditional isolation and linguistic diversity make these groups difficult to effectively evangelize. Vital discipleship and church planting ministries must be expanded to build on the impressive Scripture translation programme of SIL. Some of the least evangelized include peoples from the Náhuatl (3), Zapoteco (4), Mixteco (2), Popoloca, Chatino, Huichole and Mixe groups of peoples.

Saturday - Persecution of evangelicals occurs in certain parts of Mexico.  In the southern states, particularly Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero, believers face prejudice, harassment, evictions and church and property damage. This mostly occurs due to believers’ refusal to participate in community religious events that involve traditional Christo-pagan practices. Pray that the believers may demonstrate the meekness and love of their Saviour when maltreated.

Chile

FROM 24-06-2012 TO 30-06-2012

Chile

Chile is a 4,200-km-long country wedged between the mountains of the Andes and the Pacific Ocean and averaging only 150 km in width and there are great extremes from the hot, northern Atacama Desert to the Antarctic tundra in the south.  It is a country that has gone through many social changes in the last 40 years, from dictatorship to democracy and a relative economic stability.  Legally there is liberty of faith and worship.

Sunday - Praise the Lord for the growth of evangelicals in the last 40 years which brings their number to 18% of the population. Growth is still occurring across almost all denominations with an evangelical presence. Recent emphases by the many Pentecostal denominations on ministering to the poor and cooperating together are both signs of a maturing movement.

Monday - Chile must move on from its scarred past and the pains of Pinochet’s legacy – “…they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” Isa 61:4. Ask the Lord to heal wounds from the past.

Tuesday - Social changes in Chile reflect the shifts in life and belief in this traditionally conservative nation. Liberalization yields both positive and negative effects. Divorce was only recently legalized; before that, the number of marriages performed dropped by 45%, and 60% of children were born out of wedlock. One out of seven Chilean women is a mother by the age of 14. Crime, drug abuse and materialism are all on the rise. Many are disaffiliating themselves from traditional religious structures, with large numbers leaving both Catholicism and Pentecostalism. “May the Lord bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison to those who are bound;” Isa 61:1

Wednesday - Pray for missions vision for the Chilean Church. Its contribution for its size is very small, with little concern for world evangelization.  By setting up missions’ training programmes, COMIBAM and locally based mission agencies have influenced the Latin American missions movement and stimulated some interest in missions.  “may they take the good news to the poor…”

Thursday - Pray for the The Mapuche, the largest and most independent of Chile’s indigenous peoples.  About 70% are nominally Catholic, but the old animistic religion is still the most influential spiritual force, along with their traditional religious shamans. The Anglican Church has a solid work among the Mapuche, with about 4,000 Christians. Other organizations have initiated work among them. Many who have migrated to the cities have also been won to the Lord. The Mapudungun NT was completed in 1997.

Friday - Pray for the Rapa Nui (Easter Islanders) who are a largely Polynesian people. Most now live on the mainland… Their society is being overrun, they are losing their culture and language and outside influences  (tourism, film industry, AIDS and alcohol) are taking their toll. Most are nominally Catholic, but there are now four congregations of evangelicals and some missionaries working among them. The Rapa Nui NT was just recently completed.

Saturday -  The Romani (Gypsies) are neglected by Christians and by society in general. There are three churches with about 400 affiliates among them. The Chilean Romani NT was completed in 2005. Palestinian immigrants have recently been arriving in large numbers. Santiago has over 70,000 Christian Palestinians (mostly Orthodox and Catholic), the largest concentration in the world outside of Palestine. Pray for the gospel to take hold in these communities.

Brazil

FROM 17-06-2012 TO 23-06-2012

Brazil

Brazil has one-half of the land surface and population of South America and is the world’s fifth largest country in both area and population. Brazil is a melting pot of nations, with much intermarriage and blending of the many immigrant ethnicities. The sustained increase of evangélicos (from 2 million in 1960 to 512 million in 2010) makes Brazil one of the largest evangelical populations in the world. While not without controversy, their steady forward march is changing the makeup of Brazil’s population and orientation.

Sunday - Thank the Lord for the growth of the evangelicals, the growth of the missionary movement and the strength of  prayer movements and meetings.  In 2010, they sent just under 2,000 Protestant, Independent and Anglican missionaries – the 14th largest number sent by any nation.

Monday - Pray for the churches as numerical rather than spiritual growth is the emphasis of too many groups. As a result, churches have “multiplied”, but congregations are filled with immature, unfed spiritual infants… Such zeal without maturity leads to spiritual error, nominalism, widespread church-hopping without commitment to a particular church and large-scale backsliding.

Tuesday - Pray for more missionaries who will go to the field and more churches who will send them. While just under 2,000 is a formidable number of missionaries sent, given the mass of Brazil’s evangelicals, the sending ratio is actually very poor. There is still great and untapped potential!  Pray for effective recruitment and training.  Also pray that sending churches increase their long-term commitment to pray for, send and support missionaries.

Wednesday - One of the challenges Brazil faces are the squalid favelas. These slums are a highly visible blight in every major city – nearly 20% of Brazil’s population and up to one-third of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo’s populations live in slums (there are now 600 favelas in Rio alone).  Criminal gang lords often preside over a web of extortion, drugs, violence, prostitution and disease. However, the desperation has also brought responsiveness to the outreach directed there, often by Pentecostals who have come from the same background as those they are attempting to reach.

Thursday - The Amazon basin is of huge global importance because of its oxygen-generating forests and biodiversity. The challenges for outreach are the pioneer settlements springing up along new roads through the forests and the 36,000 yet-unchurched river communities accessible only by boat. Church planting is made difficult by the relative poverty, the migration of church members to cities and geographical isolation. There are around 180 missionary boats linked with the local churches, but the unchurched are those located farther away from the major rivers.

Friday - The indigenous Amerindians have endured centuries of prejudice, oppression, massacre and exploitation, which continue to this day by encroaching woodcutters, gold prospectors and ranchers. Their unique cultures are disintegrating through despair, disease, substance abuse and suicide.  Fully 70% of Brazil’s unevangelized peoples live in the Amazon basin.  Pray for the people who are there ministering to these people.

Saturday - Three specific groups are 1) The Yanomami (12,000 pop in Brazil) who straddle the Brazil-Venezuela border. Their land has been invaded, despoiled and poisoned by over 1,000 illegal gold miners. Over 2,000 Yanomami have been killed in clashes with settlers. 2) The Guarani – on the Paraguay border, numbering 34,000 – have been so thoroughly robbed of their ancestral lands that they are rapidly dying out through a wave of suicides, diseases and malnutrition/infant mortality. 3) The Kaiwa on the Paraguay border number more than 35,000 and struggle with similar issues as the Guarani. An oral evangelism approach is being taken to reach them.  There are missionary groups working among these people.  Pray for a great move of the Holy Spirit among these peoples.

Argentina

FROM 10-06-2012 TO 16-06-2012

Argentina

Latin America’s second largest country has abundant natural resources and a highly educated workforce. Over time, inept governments took the nation from one of the world’s richest in 1900 to almost total economic meltdown. A strong recovery has occurred since 2001, but has not sufficiently reduced poverty and unemployment. Economic growth and inflation are high.    Democratic rule was restored in 1983.  The continuity of democracy during recent presidents has aided stability.

Sunday - Praise the Lord for renewal, large-scale evangelism and sustained intercession since 1983 which have deeply affected the nation and touched the world through Argentinean evangelists, teachers, missionaries and leaders.  Also for the spiritual hunger that resulted from the succession of crises the nation suffered over many years.  “Father, thank you that you glorify your Son, even the midst of crises.”

Monday - Spiritual hunger led to growth. Evangelical numbers, under one million in 1980, reached 3.7 million by 2010. Pray that the Spirit will continue to draw many to himself and to do a deep work in believers. But spiritual openness is also seeing many drawn into cults, including Umbanda occultism from Brazil as well as to churches with some questionable teachings.  The occult also has a low-key but widespread influence.  “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name,… protect them from the evil one.” John 17:11, 15.

Tuesday - Unity of believers is essential to growth and revival. Locally and nationally, Councils of Pastors meet for prayer in key cities, and, slowly, trust is being built and cooperative ministry enhanced.   “I pray also for those who believe in me … that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” (Jesus) John 17: 20,21)

Wednesday - Amerindians from the Chaco have long been a marginalized and exploited minority.  Many of these groups’ beliefs are a highly syncretized blend of Catholicism and animism. Chaco peoples have become believers through the work of various mission organizations.  Pray for maturing of the indigenous Church, and for both expatriates and mainstream Argentineans to be sensitive to this. Pray also for ongoing translation programmes in indigenous languages.

Thursday - Pray for outreach to these specific sections of the population:

The estimated 200,000-strong Jewish community, mostly in Buenos Aires…

The sophisticated upper class, who have been harder to reach with the gospel.

The urban poor. This group includes up to 500,000 slum dwellers, homeless people and thousands of street kids.

Friday -  Pray for outreach to these groups:

University students, number 1.2 million just in state universities alone. There are few students who actively witness. A

Quechua and Aymara from Argentina, Chile and Bolivia flocked to Buenos Aires, where they have become a labouring under-class.

South American and East-Asian immigrants …

“My prayer…is also for those who will believe in me through their message.” John 17:20

Saturday - The missionary vision of the national Church is growing and maturing – and it possesses great potential to make Argentina a major sending nation.   Pray that pastors and churches may gain a vision for the unreached peoples of the world.

Pakistan

FROM 03-06-2012 TO 09-06-2012

Pakistan

Join us this week in praying for Pakistan. Still recovering from the devastating  floods of 2010, continued tension with India, the influence of radical groups within the country and pressure from without, all mean that Pakistan is very much in need of our prayers.

Sunday – The 2010 monsoon floods wrought devastation from north to south as the Indus river swept away homes, farmland and even entire villages. At least 1500 people were killed, hundreds of thousands left homeless and an estimated 20 million affected by disease or lack of basic resources. Pray for Christians – those from Pakistan and those bringing aid from outside – to demonstrate the love of Jesus in meeting both the short-term and long-term needs created by this disaster. Pray also that the Lord might use this tragedy to open new doors for the gospel into these regions, among the least reached in the world.

Monday – Pray that religious freedom might be maintained, both in law and in practice. Pray that those seeking to abuse Pakistan’s laws to produce terror and hate might themselves be subject to justice. Pray that Christians might always be prepared to share about Jesus, and to repay prejudice with forgiveness and violence with love.

Tuesday – The church continues to grow despite many obstacles. Pray for the huge critical need for leadership training for the church. Pray for educational  and training institutions, for an increase in students, for wise and godly leadership, for sufficient qualified staff and for adequate financial resources.

Wednesday – Pray for Pakistani Christians to be impassioned and equipped to share their faith and to answer the claims and questions of Muslims.

Thursday – Pakistan lies at the very heart of the unevangelised world. Over 350 peoples and castes can be regarded as unevangelised. Many of these have no churches, no Christians, no Christians workers, no witness. Pray for the calling of more intercessors, advocates and workers for these people in hard places.

Friday – Young people are a major subject for prayer, since 37% of the population are under the age of 15 and 50% are under the age of 24. Pray for organisations specifically seeking to reach young people with the message of the gospel. Pray for the development of more resources.

Saturday – Pray for Christian TV channels. Christian radio stations are illegal, but Christian TV channels and programmes are allowed. There is a potential viewership of millions. Pray that such channels would effectively minister to Christians and be a helpful witness to Muslim viewers in explaining and demonstrating the Gospel.

Information from Operation World.

The Persecuted Church in Central Asia

FROM 27-05-2012 TO 02-06-2012

The Persecuted church in Central Asia

‘In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men, in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.’ Ps 31:20

Sunday- Turkmenistan Please pray for several Christian families in a small village in Turkmenistan. The community is hostile to the Christians and hinders them in using the village well. They also threaten to kill them if they send their children to school. The families testified that this persecution will help them become stronger in their faith.

Monday -  Turkmenistan. President Berdymukhammedov, who was re-elected on February 10, has promised political reforms in Turkmenistan. Pray that the Church will actually experience an improvement in their difficult situation.

Tuesday – Turkey. The Constitution is being revised in Turkey. Pray that the rights of the religious minorities will be protected. Pray that Christians in addition to the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox (the only denominations currently recognized by the government) will receive equal rights.

Wednesday – Chechnya.  Chechens who become Christian find it very difficult to be able to have fellowship with other Chechen Christians. Usually they have to leave the country in order to meet with other Christians. Pray that there will be more ‘room to breathe’ for local Christians in Chechnya.

Thursday – Ingushetia. There are hardly any Christians in Ingushetia (North Caucasus). Please pray for the outreach that is taking place. A Christian shopkeeper has some literature and materials for those who are interested. Pray that many will come to know the Saviour.

Friday – Uzbekistan.  Authorities are increasingly clamping-down on Christian activity in the country. Also many church leaders are receiving threats by phone or letter. This creates much tension for them and their families. Please pray for protection for these pastors and church leaders. Please pray for the churches in Uzbekistan.

Saturday - Pray for the believers in Central Asia according to Acts 4: 29-30, “Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.’

Iran

FROM 20-05-2012 TO 26-05-2012

Iran

Recent years of rapid urbanisation and population growth has resulted in near millions of jobless young urbanites. Add to this a government which represses opposition, and you have a tense and volatile situation. The courts have the right to impose the death sentence on men who convert to Christianity, and life imprisonment for women who do so. This is Iran – pray with us for the people of this land, created, known and loved by God.

Sunday – Praise the Lord that despite persecution people are coming to Jesus! Estimates are that there are more than 100,000 believers in Iran, and that is a conservative figure. This underground church multiplication is a remarkable move of the Holy Spirit. Pray that is would continue.

Monday – Christian satellite TV broadcasts and Christian websites in Persian languages are having an unprecedented impact and reach even to remote villages with the gospel. Pray for open ‘airways’ and open ears and hearts to receive the message of the gospel.

Tuesday – Almost all Christian activity is illegal, especially when it occurs in Persian languages – from evangelism to Bible training to publishing Scripture and Christian books. Yet the church continues to grow! Pray for boldness and wisdom for those in leadership.

Wednesday – Intimidation, infiltration and martyrdom of several church leaders, and pressure from the government on any form of evangelism, have caused many churches to adopt house church models. Pray for courage and fortitude such that their persecutors will be won for Christ. Pray for greater freedom for churches to minister.

Thursday – Young people are particularly responsive to the gospel. They are increasingly disillusioned and looking for answers. Pray that the unmet longings of their hearts might be fulfilled as they meet Christ.

Friday – Leadership training and development are absolutely vital if the church is to continue to grow and mature. Much training of Iranian Christian workers occurs abroad, but a growing number study via correspondence courses or online bible colleges. Pray for the development and distribution of programmes that will cultivate many passionate, capable and well trained leaders for the underground church in Iran.

Saturday – The Gypsy communities of Iran number 1.3 million people, including the largest group, the Domari. Their low social status and semi-nomadic nature keep them ‘hidden’ . There are no Christian workers dedicated to reaching them. Pray that the Lord will place a burden on the hearts of many for this people group and that soon there will be a church among the Domari. Isaiah 6:8 – ‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said ‘Here I am. Send me!’

The Kurds

FROM 13-05-2012 TO 19-05-2012

The Kurds

There are more than 25 million Kurds, mainly living in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Armenia. In many of these countries they have been persecuted and experienced dreadful violence hatred and rejection. Join with us this week in praying that Kurds will have the opportunity to hear about the love of Jesus and come to know themselves to be loved and treasured by the God who created them.

Sunday – Pray for peace. Pray that those who would seek revenge for the atrocities experienced by the Kurds would have a change of heart through the salvation of Jesus Christ. Pray that Kurdish believers will lead others down the path of peace rather than the wide road of destruction.

Monday – The majority of Kurdish people have no access to the gospel. High illiteracy rates among the Kurds create obstacles to sharing the word of God. There are 4 main dialects of the Kurdish language which makes it even more complicated to bring the gospel to them. Pray that God would use every means necessary – Christian witness, the Word, dreams and visions – to bring Kurds into His Kingdom.

Tuesday – Pray for the development of audio and visual materials in Kurdish dialects. Ask God to help workers complete these projects quickly so that the good news of Jesus will soon get into the hearts and minds of Kurds.

Wednesday – More than 5 million Kurds live in Iran. They live as marginalised people with little access to education, jobs and even healthcare. Pray for Christian radio broadcasts and oral Scriptures in Kurdish dialects, and especially those which are directed towards Kurds in Iran. Pray too for believers who are creating Kurdish praise and worship music.

Thursday – Because of the dreadful attacks against Kurds in Northern Iraq during the 1980’s, there is a hopelessness which pervades this area. The trauma of the attacks, along with the continues pressure of poverty and displacement, has taken its toll. Pray for healing among the Kurds of Iraq. Pray for those who are seeking to bring the light of Christ to those who are living in darkness. Pray for more workers for this region.

Friday – Nearly 2 million Kurds live in Syria. Pray for them in this time of upheaval and violence in Syria. There is a small Christian population amongst them. Pray that strong Christian leaders will emerge, and for boldness and faithfulness for these believers.

Saturday – Many Kurdish people feel that the world has forgotten them. The Kurds need to know that they will never be forgotten by the heavenly Father who loves them. Ask God to reveal Himself to the Kurds. Isaiah 60:2 – ‘May the Light of the Lord rise upon you, may His Glory appear over you.’

Turkey

FROM 06-05-2012 TO 12-05-2012

                          Turkey

Turkey – the land of Noah, of Abraham, of Paul, of Ararat and Harran, of Antioch, Ephesus, Galatia, of the seven churches of Revelation….

Yet today, the body of Christians in Turkey is less than 0.1% of the population of 72 million.

Join this us this week in praying for Turkey. The ground is hard and the battle in the heavenlies is tough. In recent years there has been a sense of urgency and burden for prayer for this nation and its churches.

Sunday – Pray for the blessing and peace of Turkey in general, and that the Church in Turkey will be a light in the darkness. Is 42:16 – ‘I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These things I will do; I will not forsake them.’

Monday – Pray that the Lord will display His love and mercy to the people of Turkey by pouring out His Holy Spirit upon the land, revealing His glory through healing, signs and wonders.

Tuesday – Pray that the Lord would break down the lies and the endless disinformation about Christ, the bible and Christians that has blinded and hardened hearts in Turkey. 2 Cor 10:3-5

Wednesday – Pray that hearts and eyes would be opened to see Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. Pray especially for ministries which seek to get the Word of God into people’s hands. His Word is life!

Thursday – Pray for Turkish believers who are always on the ‘frontline’ , that they will walk closely with the Lord. Pray for refreshing, emboldening, strengthening, protection and encouragement.

Friday – Pray for more servant hearted leaders. Pray for good role models. Pray for those who are labouring faithfully for the Lord in Turkey. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers to Turkey – there are many areas, particularly in the east, where there is no gospel witness at all.

Saturday – Pray for the ongoing unity amongst the churches and for its increase and greater depth. Romans 15:5-6: ‘May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’

Bible Translation in Central Asia

FROM 29-04-2012 TO 05-05-2012

CENTRAL ASIA

INTRODUCTION

The region of Central Asia can be defined in various ways, but whatever the definition, it is clear that this region needs the Good News of Christ! There are dozens of languages spoken here, with Turkic and Iranian languages predominating. Praise God that gradually his Word is being translated into both national and minority languages in the area. Here are some situations for which you can pray and praise God for work underway or yet to be done:

Sunday - A team is nearing the end of a complete translation of the Scriptures in one language of this region. They write: “We hope to have the whole Book typeset and ready for the printers in mid-2014. Everyone is working very hard to keep to the deadlines. When we gather to review the drafts with a translation consultant, there is a lot of material to check! At our last session, the books of Mark, Luke, Galatians and Philippians were all checked in a week.” Please pray for the team as they prepare for the next checking session in June 2012, when they hope to cover John, Ephesians, Colossians, 1-3 John and Jude.

Monday- In some areas, believers are afraid to own a copy of the Scriptures because of the climate of oppression. So they have been relying heavily on Scriptures on cell phones. They do not even meet in homes anymore due to the opposition. Instead, they get together in groups of three that arrange their own times and places to meet several times a week (in a car, in a park, walking down the street, sitting in a café, etc.). They are able to read Scripture from mobile phones and pray together. Praise God for this creative way believers have found for fellowship, and pray that God will bless them through His Word and prayer.

Tuesday -  Language development lays a foundation on which translated Scriptures will eventually be used. With the help of picture books left on a first village visit, two young girls were asked to write texts for them using the newly developed alphabet. On the second visit, one of the girls excitedly presented two stories she had written, and she is eager to do more. This small thing marks a significant step for the language community. These are probably the first texts that have been written in this language, certainly within living memory. Using these and other stories, researchers will begin to unravel more about how the grammar works. Pray for steady progress as this language community develops their language.

Wednesday -  A language group of over one million speakers is waiting for the Scriptures to be available in their mother tongue. After many difficulties and delays, the translation team now hopes to complete the New Testament by the end of 2013. Pray that God will strengthen each member of the team and enable them to move steadily forward. There are still questions about some key terms and about how best to distribute the translated Scriptures. Pray for insight and wisdom in each of these choices.

Thursday -  Scripture produced in audio-visual formats can be more accessible than in print form. An expatriate working in Central Asia reported that a local woman called to thank them for the gift of Scripture on DVD. She told them that it was exactly what she had been wanting. Although she doesn’t have time to read, she and other women listen to the DVD while they work at home making carpets. Another family reported that when they wake up in the morning, they put on the DVD and listen to the New Testament, and later sit and read along with the Pentateuch on the TV screen. Pray that the Holy Spirit will use the Word to bring about repentance, faith and hope in these listeners.

Friday -  Hundreds of thousands of people from Central Asian countries now live in the Russian Federation as migrant workers. They live in difficult circumstances and are often spiritually open. As believers reach out to them, there is growing interest in offering them Scriptures in their own languages. After months of effort, Scripture portions in their languages have been re-printed and imported, including 2000 copies of Scriptures for children. Praise God for this provision, and pray that these Scriptures will get into the right hands and be a blessing to the readers. May an efficient network be established to distribute Scriptures in the languages of migrants across this land.

Saturday -  A man serves with a team working to translate the Scriptures into one of the languages of this region. His job is to check drafted translation to make sure it is accurate and faithful to the source text. During this current year, he has moved to the language area and is focusing on language study. Please pray that God will help him build good relationships with people there and that his fluency will grow so that he can be a more effective member of the team.

For more information on bible translation in Central Asia, contact Wycliffe International via the ‘connect’ page.

Syria

FROM 22-04-2012 TO 28-04-2012

Syria

‘Many Syrians take to the streets.’

This is becoming a familiar refrain in our news feeds.  Thousands of the 18.4 million people in Syria have sipped from the cup of boldness, inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.  The Assad government has so far resisted and sought to quell the uprising.

Syria In The Bible

Syria features prominently throughout Scripture.  The capital city of Damascus is mentioned in Genesis and in much of the Old Testament.

The most well-known incident linked with Damascus is recorded in Acts, when Paul was approaching the city, intending to arrest any who belonged to the Way.  A light flashed around him and he was struck blind.  The risen Lord Jesus instructed Paul to continue towards the city, where he met Ananias.  His ministry to the Gentiles began in there, where he preached that “Jesus is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).

The Church Today

Christianity took root in Syria in the first century until Islam came in the seventh century.  Today, about 10 per-cent of Syrians are Christians while 87 per-cent are Muslims.  Many Christians adhere to Orthodox traditions, with a Protestant minority.  One Christian town in Syria uses Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ.

Under the present leadership, Christians have been allowed to co-exist alongside Muslims and others.  Christians are not free to witness openly to Muslims, although Syrian and foreign Christians do seek to share the claims of Christ with their Muslim friends and neighbours.

Prayer Points

Sunday - Pray for an end to the violence.  According to reports, 3000 people have died and tens of thousands have been injured.

Monday - Pray for the 10,000 Syrians who have fled to Turkey and who now live there as refugees.  May the Lord send Christians to be salt and light.

Tuesday - Pray that the witness of Syrian and foreign Christians would be effective. The presence of Christian workers in Syria is a fragile and precarious thing; pray for great wisdom and discretion for them. Many have left because of the escalation of violence. Pray for them as they wait and trust for the door to open once again.

Wednesday - Praise God that President Assad has sought to protect Christians and allow them to co-exist peacefully with other religious groups – may this continue, regardless of the outcome of the present struggles. Thank God for the wise leadership of the Christian communities, and pray that these communities might grow.

Thursday - Praise God for the Christian history of Syria – may the Spirit of God flood this land with a new wave of spiritual life. Pray for renewal in these ancient traditions.

Friday – Pray for new believers from other backgrounds. Pray for those who have made a decision to follow Jesus, for perseverance in persecution, acceptance into fellowship by other believers and growth to maturity.

Saturday – Pray for Christian Media reaching into Syria – radio (FEBA, IBRA and TWR), television (SAT-7, Al Hayat and The Miracle Channel), and the JESUS film. Pray that many will hear and understand the Gospel through these means, and also through literature available via the Bible Society.

To watch a video to help you pray for Syria, go to http://prayercast.com/syria

South Africa

FROM 15-04-2012 TO 21-04-2012

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is the richest and most industrialized country in Africa, with gold, platinum, chrome, diamonds and coal as resources.  It’s a land of great diversity, some water sources in the east and increasing desertification towards the west coast.  Seventy-five percent of the population is African, with the rest Caucasians, mixed and Asians.

Sunday -  Land redistribution and affirmative action in employment are contentious initiatives that seek to assist the previously disadvantaged.  Extremes of wealth and poverty persist.  Pray for economic measures that uplift those most needing assistance without crippling the economy.  Pray that the Master will equip and enable every person and group that fights for wise laws, fair decisions and equality in the sharing of the available resources.

Monday - We praise God for all the work done by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission under Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  However this “rainbow nation” continues to deal with contempt, mistrust and deep-seated hurts and fears.  Ask the Father to strengthen and empower all agents for deep reconciliation, so that hope may grow.  Pray that the Church may lead the way by living out the truth of oneness in Jesus Christ.

Tuesday - Crime and corruption bring disillusionment.  Lift up the beleaguered police force.  To fight crime, the Father’s servants minister among children at risk, jobless youth, prisoners and the police force.  Pray that the spirit of violence might be bound under the authority of Christ and the power of Messiah flow through these groups, transforming society.

Wednesday - The AIDS calamity damages many.  There are nearly two million AIDS orphans.  May the Master raise up many workers to serve among them.  May the lives of all the Jesus-followers shine with his kindness and be known for their love and unity.

Thursday - Biblical Christianity has made great strides.  Prayer initiatives started in South Africa have gone on to impact the world.   There is much enthusiasm in prayer and commendable outreach ministry to needy areas of society.  Much more help is needed—such as to the 10,000 child prostitutes.  But in many groups revival is needed.  Pray that the church will have a prophetic voice in a society that no longer holds to moral absolutes.  May the fellowships of Jesus be pierced by HIS holiness and obey his Words.

Friday - The training of Christian leaders in Africa is a multi-faceted challenge.  Finding finances to support the many theological faculties and Bible Schools is a challenge to each.  TEE and modular training are cost-effective alternatives used by thousands.  Numerous independent churches could benefit by a more sensitive biblical understanding.  Pray that leaders will understand how to best do the training of spiritual leaders in their context, retaining the best of African culture yet biblical and accountable to the wider Body of Christ.

Saturday - Pray for the continued growth and health of the flourishing mission movement and the continued strategic development of vision.   Ask God for more workers from the Black churches.  New and relevant ways of doing mission need to be explored!  In the work of translation, pray for the work on the Southern Ndebele Old Testament to be completed.

Senegal

FROM 08-04-2012 TO 14-04-2012

SENEGAL

SENEGAL is mainland Africa’s most westerly state.  It is arid, with few natural resources.  Over a quarter of the population lives in bustling Dakar—refreshed by constant sea breezes.  The country is 95% Muslim, with Wolof the prevalent language and dominant people group.  French is the language of schools and universities.

Fuel for your prayers:

Sunday -     The Word of God is powerful!  Lift to the Father each of the translation teams working in the country.  May their lives reflect the way of the Master and the translations satisfy the peoples’ heart thirst.  One new challenge is to translate the Scriptures into Wolofal—Wolof in Arabic script.  The people are eager to see it.  The team that has taken on this task has seen hindrances thrown up before them.  Pray for accomplishment!

Monday -      The three Muslim Sufi brotherhoods are well-organized, wealthy, and politically powerful.  Over 85% of all Muslims belong to one of them.

“They sing in the night--

harmonic men’s voices.

Do these beautiful songs express

a longing heart seeking You?

Show them Jesus, in a dream…

May their heart sing to You, the True King.”

Tuesday -      The Fulbe are largely pastoral, some nomadic.  “In a small village, in a round mud hut, two men sit on a mat.  A papaya has just been sliced.  One man turns on an Ipod and a clear Fulani voice speaks the Story of creation from the Torah.  The other man listens, entranced.  A noise at the door distracts the first man, but the second picks up the apparatus and holds it close to his ear so as not to miss a word.”  Pray for hundreds of hungry hearts to hear the Word and enter into the Kingdom of God!

Wednesday -     The Maures.  Radio stations have been broadcasting the Way of Righteousness chronological Scripture Stories for some years now.  There are those who are listening with a stirred heart!  One leader tells the men over whom he has influence that the words are good.  Out in the most remote areas, scattered men are listening to a small apparatus that contains all these Stories and even the Injil in their language.  Ask the Father to give great wisdom to his children who live near these people, that they can point them into the Scriptures and live like Jesus, so that worshipping communities of the Most High will grow strong in spirit, guiding many others to obey the teachings of Messiah.

Thursday -      Some animistic peoples have been coming to Jesus.  Pray for strong church fellowships with a backbone of well-discipled families to be planted in each ethnic group.  May they see that obedience is the key to joy!

Friday -     Many youth have flocked to the cities in search of education and employment.  The Father’s servants have started English classes and other services to engage them.  Some are hearing the Word and some are examining it at length.  With recent political unrest, dissatisfaction seizes many.  Pray that their hearts will find rest in the Master’s Words.  We ask GOD for a vibrant movement among the youth to him!

Saturday -    In the cities there are thousands of lads called ‘talibe.’  Families send a boy to live under a sheik and be taught by him.  Every morning these youngsters hit the streets with their empty tomato can attached to a string, begging, to attain the 300f cfa their sheik requires per day.  As soon as they achieve this goal, they are free to relax, to return to be taught or to go to the houses of hope where the Father’s workers care for them, teach them reading, share the words of Jesus and the way to peace.  We need more workers!  Ask our merciful LORD to strengthen these workers and transform these boys.  We yearn to see a movement running through the city of lads who see Jesus sharing with others!

Would you like to know more about serving God in Senegal? Contact WEC via the Connect page.

DR Congo

FROM 01-04-2012 TO 07-04-2012

CONGO-DRC (formerly Zaire).  A huge nation—over two million square kilometers, DRC Congo is rich in economic possibilities.  It holds the Congo River system—with the hydro-electric potential to power the entire continent, and the vast Central Africa rainforest—rich in flora and fauna, diamonds, mineral resources and agriculture.  It is home to nearly 250 ethno-linguistic groups.  Frequent war and strife in the last twenty years, as well as corruption starting at the highest levels, have destroyed or paralyzed a nationwide economic and political infrastructure.  The vast majority of people live without electricity, plumbing, educational or medical services.

Pray!

Sunday -  There is no centralized government, no connectedness between the vast regions, almost no functioning infrastructure and no single language or culture to unite its many diverse peoples.  Pray for the will to re-establish a single nation, with an honest and just centralized authority.  The Christian Church—the only viable national social structure to survive and retain some credibility—has a crucial role in rebuilding the nation.  Some churches have done wonderful works.   Pray that the Father will flood the nation with a hunger for the Word of God and a yearning to obey the words of Jesus, so that they work in unity to move forward.

Monday - Job creation is one of the government’s top five priorities.  Pray that the fear of God will settle heavily on those who control money sources, that they will use funds wisely to pay government officials, the military and police, teachers and medical workers.  In some remote areas there are very few qualified personnel to administer medical care, access to essential medicine is difficult because of the low purchasing power of the population, and there is a total absence of an anti-AIDS program—including safety in transfusions.  Ask God to raise up medical workers in all areas and to strengthen all those already hard at work.

Tuesday - There has been a powerful spiritual evil presiding over the land due to the unspeakable horrors of war, greed, corruption and witchcraft.  Cry out to GOD to deliver this land, binding the spirits that have exercised such wicked control over suffering people.  Proclaim the reign of our God!

Wednesday - The illegal militias have evolved into armies of dangerous warlords.  A great challenge is to be able to provide jobs—even the incentive of the meeting of basic needs—so they will lay down their arms.  Ask the Father to raise up charismatic leaders speaking of a better way!

Thursday - The Church needs a vision of hope.  Pray for the LORD to empower holy leaders to use again even more widely the TEE modules of on-site Bible training with an obedience model.  May all those working in institutional Bible training be humbly led by the Holy Spirit to create new models of ministry—holistic, community-based, discipleship-focused and sustainable in nature.

Friday - There is a staggering lack of workers.  Call to the Father to send a new surge of his servants to live out the life of Jesus and to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional and psychological needs of the population.  Ask the Master for a harmonious and effective partnering—a beautiful unity—between nationals and expatriates.

Saturday - Christian ministries are beginning to move forward again.  Most areas suffer from a severe lack of God’s Word.  Pray for the radio programming to be dispersed more widely, for Christian audio resources of many types to be disseminated, and for the Scripture translation projects to prosper—29 are in progress, 94 are still needed.  Christian schools have filled a huge gap, but around five million children still go without schooling today.  Pray that the opportunities to create schools may be bought up by many of the Master’s teachers.

Bible translation in Africa

FROM 25-03-2012 TO 31-03-2012

South Sudan became an independent nation in July 2011 when it seceded from Sudan.  This was the culmination of a struggle between northerners and southerners in Sudan that had lasted over 50 years.  During that time the church grew rapidly in both the north and the south so that, while it is still true to say that most South Sudanese follow traditional religion, the influence of the church is impacting people everywhere.  Many of those who turned to Christ in the north were internally displaced southerners, but the church also grew rapidly among the Nuba peoples of Southern Kordofan.

There are many tensions and much distrust and resentment between Sudan and South Sudan.  Most of the oil wealth is now in South Sudan and the loss of oil revenue has hit Sudan badly.  Sudan plans to deprive all southerners living in the north of citizenship in 2012.  Many southerners have moved to South Sudan and this has had an impact on the church in Sudan, stripping it of many gifted leaders.

The Bible translated into people’s mother tongue has brought knowledge of the truth to many in Sudan.  In Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, the ECS Diocese of Khartoum Bible Translation Department and the Bible Society of Sudan continue to work faithfully to translate the Scriptures in to the languages of the north.

Sunday -  There are ten translation projects ongoing, including two Old Testament projects.  In Juba, there are another ten projects translating the Scriptures into languages of the south.  Pray for good progress of the Dinka Cam Old Testament.  The Dinka is the largest tribe in South Sudan.

You can help open access to Scripture through intercession:

Monday -       After such a long civil war many people have never been to school, or have only had a few years of primary school education.  As a result, church leaders are poorly educated.  The ECS plans to open a Bible School in Wau, in Bahr el Ghazal state, in 2012.  Pray for the growth of the church in Bahr el Ghazal.  Pray for the Gbaya Bible translation.  The New Testament is nearing completion and should be published in 2014. Pray, too, for the gospel to reach the Luwo and Ndogo people of Bahr el Ghazal.  The New Testament was published in these two languages in 2002 and 2003 but because of the civil war there are few readers.

Tuesday -   A project to translate the gospel of Luke into three languages of South Sudan – Jur Beli, Bongo and Mandari – will result in the dubbing of the Jesus Film into these languages in 2012.  Four additional languages (which already have New Testament translations) have joined the project at the recording stage: Avokaya, Mundu and Jur Modo.  Pray that the gospel will reach the unreached through the Jesus Film.

Wednesday -     Faith Comes By Hearing has recorded the New Testament into six languages of South Sudan recently.  Part of the project includes setting up listening groups, which gather round a Megavoice player to hear the Scriptures.  Pray for those who travel into rural areas to gather the people together to hear the Scriptures.

Thursday -    One of the biggest challenges in Sudan is the difficulty getting visas so that expatriate technical advisers can live in Khartoum and work with the ECS Translation Department.  Pray that a solution is found to this problem.

Friday -       In South Sudan, there is a problem with a lack of affordable housing in Juba.  The demand is much higher than the supply of houses and the lack of housing is delaying the arrival of urgently needed expatriate technical advisors.  SIL Sudan has a large empty plot of land on which it can build new houses and offices but there is a lack of funding for construction.

Saturday -        Ten Sudanese translators and translation support workers spend June, July and August each year in Nairobi, Kenya, undertaking undergraduate-level training.  With a weak educational background, they are all finding the course challenging.  Those whose primary school education was in Arabic are particularly challenged.  Pray that these men will thrive as the study and that the church in general and the work of Bible translation, in particular, will be strengthened.

If you would like to know more about bible traslation contact Wycliffe via the 'connect' page.

Laos

FROM 18-03-2012 TO 24-03-2012

Laos

Laos [the Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic] is one of the world’s poorest countries. It is spiritually hungry, but restrictions on Christian witness, persecution and a lack of mature church leadership hampers the spread of the gospel.

About the size of the UK, Laos is completely landlocked, bounded by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Although 90 per cent of the country is mountainous, most life centres around the fertile Mekong River and its tributaries. The [Communist] Lao People’s Revolutionary Party is still the only legal political party in Laos. Most opposition leaders fled the country in the 1970s. Vietnamese troops remained in Laos to bolster the regime until 1990.

The country has struggled economically and discontent is widespread. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80 per cent of total employment. Recently the government has attempted to move towards an open-market economy.

Laos has no state social services. The country has a high infant mortality rate [8.7 per cent], and many urban areas lack modern sewerage and water facilities. Malaria, dysentery, parasitic diseases and respiratory infections are a major problem, and there is only one doctor for every 6500 people. Life expectancy is 55 years.

Restrictions remain on public evangelism, the building of churches and links with foreign organisations. It is said that the years since 1997 have been the most oppressive for Christians since the beginning of Communist government. Christians have been imprisoned and forced to sign statements rejecting their faith.

Prayer Point

Sunday - Pray for freedom for evangelism, church planting and building, for the effective use of present freedoms and for changes that will open Laos up for the preaching of the gospel. Rather than retrenching, pray that Christians would reach out, especially to the ethnic minorities.

Monday - Missionary work is not officially permitted, but there are openings for Christian professionals and those working with aid and relief programmes. Pray for a reopened door for Bible translators, church planters and Bible teachers. Ask the Lord to send workers into the harvest fields of Laos!

Tuesday - There are at least 13 languages for which there is a definite need for Bible translation teams and a possible total of 66 languages. Pray for discernment in prioritising, and for men and women to invest their lives in translating God’s word.

Wednesday – Much of Laos remains unevangelised. There are many unreached people groups. Pray especially for the Tai tribes, speaking 15 languages. There are almost no resources in their dialects. Pray for the gospel light to shine throughout Laos and to draw many to Christ.

Thursday – Pray for leaders for the churches. Over 90% of all trained leaders left Laos in 1975. Most congregations do not have a trained pastor. Pray for the development of reproducible training for lay leaders.

Friday – Pray for various media ministries which are seeking to reach Laos. There are now audio messages in 91 languages and dialects of Laos. Christian radio broadcasts in many indigenous languages and has great potential. Pray that people will hear these recordings and broadcasts and know they are truth.

Saturday – There is a small population of Muslim’s living in Laos, most of whom came from Cambodia as refugees in the 1970’s. They belong to the Cham people. The Cham in Cambodia have been very resistant to the Gospel. Pray that this community in Laos would be reached for Jesus, and that they would then be the means of reaching the Cham in Cambodia.

Would you like to know more about Laos and how to pray?

Go to: http://www.omf.org/omf/uk/asia/countries_omf_centres/laos/how_to_pray

Bhutan

FROM 11-03-2012 TO 17-03-2012

Bhutan

Bhutan is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end
of the Himalayas. It is bordered to the south, east and west by India
and to the north by China.
The population is 74% Buddhist and 22% Hindu.
Bhutan was isolated from the outside world and access for foreigners is still very restricted.
Its isolationist policies further reinforce the hold of Tantric Buddhism.
Bhutan is one of the world’s least evangelized nations. Church buildings are not allowed, and Christians are not given access to many of the state benefits available to Buddhists, such as free education.

Prayer Points

Sunday – There is a strong occultic/demonic influence in Bhutan from pre-Buddhist animism. Pray for true spiritual liberation for this ‘land of the Dragon’. Pray for King Wangchuk and his salvation.

Monday – There are only a few hundred known Christians amongst the Tibetan/Himilayan peoples of Bhutan, and there are severe restrictions on them meeting together. Pray for the emergence of a vital witnessing fellowship in every ethnic group of the Bhutanese.

Tuesday – Since 1989 Nepali Bhutanese have been persecuted. Many have been driven out of the country and are in UN refugee camps in south east Nepal. Several dozen Christian fellowships have formed in these camps among those who have found faith and the number of believers is growing. Pray that the compassion of Jesus might be demonstrated to these displaced people and that many more will find hope in Jesus.

Wednesday – Also since 1990 restrictions on Christian witness in Bhutan have increased. There are a few small aid projects but visas are difficult to obtain. Pray that there would once more be an open door so that the Gospel can be shared with Bhutanese.

Thursday – There are opportunities for Christians from India and Nepal to share with Bhutanese who live near the borders. Pray that through literature distribution, through radio and scripture recordings many Bhutanese would respond to the Gospel.

Friday – Christians in Bhutan are denied religious freedom and are persecuted in various ways. Because church buildings are forbidden most fellowships must meet in homes. Bhutanese who become Christians face the loss of their citizenship, access to free education, health care and employment, even access to electricity and water. In some instances harassment and beatings occur. Pray for God’s protection, peace and provision for His children, and that their witness for Him would shine brightly in the darkness.

Saturday -Children are often taken to temples to live as novice monks because their families are too poor to feed and educate them. Also, Buddhist teaching is that the mother will “gain merit” for her “next life” because she sacrifices one of her sons to the temple. Pray that Bhutanese mothers will hear about the Son of God who was sent to earth in order that she and her family might find eternal life with God. Pray that children who are sent to serve as novice monks will have the opportunity to hear about Jesus, making it possible for them to be adopted into God’s family.

Would you like to know more about Bhutan and how to pray?

Go to: http://www.go2southasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Bhutan-30-Day-Prayer-Guide.pdf

To watch a prayer video on Bhutan go to: http://prayercast.com/bhutan

Unreached Peoples of Asia - The Buriat

FROM 04-03-2012 TO 10-03-2012

Asia’s Unreached Peoples – The Buriat

There are around 650,000 Buriat living in China, Russia and north-east Mongolia. They share many common traits and customs with the Mongols but there are many historical and linguistic differences. Most Buriat live in mud and wood houses, although some are still nomads.

They practice a primarily Shamanistic religion called Burkhanism. There is a preoccupation with the spirit world, and monks and lamas are called upon to alleviate evil spirits through divination and oracles, sorcery, mediums, and astrology. Ways to obtain merit involve spinning prayer wheels, reciting mantras, and daily walks around shrines. In a Tibetan Buddhist "scapegoat ritual," the sins and misfortunes of one individual or community are placed upon an image of dough, which is then thrown away in some wild or uninhabited area. Occasionally a domestic animal (often a goat) is selected, symbolically laden with guilt, and sent out to be killed by whoever finds it. This analogy is a cultural bridge that can be used to introduce the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Prayer points:

Sunday - There is a desperate need for a current, up to date translation of the New Testament in the Buriat language. The Gospel books of John and Mark are waiting to be printed. There is only one known church among the Buryat. So many more need to know that God loves them.

Monday – Buriat people, whether they live in China, Mongolia or Russia, need to find true peace tat can only come through knowing Jesus. Pray for freedom from fear of evil spirits and hatred and healing from hurt from Russian people in their history.

Tuesday – Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers to reach the Buriat. Pray for those who are learning the language so that they can share the gospel. Aask the Lord to give them courage and perseverance.

Wednesday – Pray that the message of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world would really penetrate into Buriat hearts. Pray that they would have dreams and visions of the Risen, Reigning Jesus.

Thursday – There is a need for bible translation, scripture portions and other resources in the Buriat language. Pray for the personnel and resources for these projects so that the Buriat can have access to the Word of God.

Friday  - Pray for freedom from alcoholism, violence and divorce that are destroying lives in Buriat communities. Pray that Christian counselors will be able to help people to change the destructive patterns in their lives by showing them the freedom that Christ offers.

Saturday – Pray for the breaking down of strongholds of Buddhism and Shaminism which bind the Buriat. Declare the rightful reign of Jesus over these people and ask the Lord to open their eyes and hearts to the truth of the Gospel.

If you would like to know more about praying for the Buriat, contact us via the Connect page.

Bible Translation in Asia

FROM 26-02-2012 TO 03-03-2012

Bible Translation in Asia

More than 50 percent of the world’s population (approximately four billion people) resides in Asia. With that many people come many languages. Nearly one-third of the world’s languages are spoken in Asia and the largest concentration of people in the world who do not have access to God’s Word in their own language is found on this continent. This means the greatest need for Bible translation – 40 percent of the total need – is in Asia.

Asia is the birthplace of most of the world’s dominant religions and ideals: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucianism. Many of these groups have over a billion adherents, but the Christian church has been blessed and is growing at an exponential rate.

While millions of Asians are still waiting for the Good News of Jesus Christ to arrive in their language, hundreds of thousands of other Asians are working to help make that happen. The Church in Asia is a key player in the global effort to take God’s Word to the unreached.

Sunday: Partnerships promote progress: South Asia

Praise God for the excellent partnerships being developed with local organizations in one South Asian country. This enables local people to learn and grow and to take ownership of the needs and solutions in their situation. Pray for those working to encourage local leaders. And pray for the local peoples who will benefit from the growing partnerships.

Monday: Mission exposure trips: Japan

Praise God for the mission exposure program for potential candidates from Japan, started 31 years ago. In March 2012 there will be two mission exposure trips to Asian countries. Pray that they will have a good number of participants, safe travels and good weather. And pray that the participants will clearly see the benefits of Bible translation and literacy work in these locations.

Tuesday: Audio-visual training on cell phones: Southeast Asia

In November one team helped put together an audio-visual recording of a chronological storying of the Bible and some basic training on following Jesus in the local language.  The recording was done years ago to listen to with an illustrated book, but was never widely distributed.  It's now available for people to watch on their cell phones, which are HUGE in their area.  People may not have running water or electricity, but it seems like most households have a cell phone.  Pray that many people would watch this film and be impacted.

Wednesday: Opposition to translation: South Asia

Pray for the S. translation. These speakers live in a restricted country with only scattered believers. Pray that the two mother-tongue co-translators would fully submit their lives to Christ’s Lordship and experience his healing and release from bondage. Pray also for one of the key members of the team who was recently diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. She and her husband have returned to the States for chemotherapy treatment. All the books of the New Testament, except for Romans, have been rough drafted. Significant passages in the Old Testament are also being prepared to give this audience the background they need to grasp what’s so good about the Good News. In the light of such advances, counter-attacks are to be expected. Please provide the prayer cover for this work.

Thursday: Scripture brings transformation: South Asia

Those who read an Easter story diglot could not wait to have the longer Scripture book ("diglot" means a bilingual edition of a book). Completion of the book was celebrated in May. Now the Scriptures are being read by both believers and those who are not yet; and more of those who do not yet believe are attending church regularly. Praise God for the perseverance of the translator, Irene, who had little initial support. Praise God for bringing His light to this people group. Pray for further transformation among the K people as they read recently released Scriptures.

Friday: New members needed: South Korea

Pray that through the active participation of Global Bible Translators (GBT) Associates, there will be more people joining as “silver” missionaries*. These members will support Bible translation and work both in the mission field and Korea. Pray that GBT will develop an effective system for mobilizing and sending out short-term missionaries.

*Silver missionaries are people choosing to serve in their later years or after retirement.

Saturday: Bible translator mentors: India

Pray for mature Bible translators as they mentor younger translators. Translation is multi-faceted, including language learning, development of writing systems, linguistic analysis and actual translation. These facets must be balanced to produce good results. Pray for younger translators as they receive mentoring and look to God for wisdom about how to proceed. Pray they will remain encouraged as they persevere day by day.

Chad

FROM 19-02-2012 TO 25-02-2012

The Republic of Chad

Located between in the space between Libya, Sudan and Nigeria, Chad is diverse country in which new ways are displacing traditional ways. The North and Central parts of the country are overwhelmingly Muslim. The far South has a Christian majority. The government is secular and supports religious liberty.

It is a land where every ethnic group is in a minority. There are over 120 ethnic groups. The largest of these are the Arabs and the local dialect of Arabic is by far the most widely spoken language in Chad, used by many non-Arabs. There are still many ethnic groups and languages into which no concerted effort has ever been made to introduce the Good News of Jesus.

The Christian movement is strong in the South, but the vast majority of churches function in tribal languages, in effect closed to most unreached peoples. The churches run effective outreaches in the South, but there is very little genuinely cross-cultural mission elsewhere. Internally, rapid social change is increasing the tensions between old and young and across tribal boundaries.

For most Muslims in Chad, Islam is a fundamental part of their ethnic identity. Their Islam is conservative and local. However, various forms of international radical Islam are inevitably bringing change, challenging the old ways and demanding a response.

Chad is now an oil producer and richer than it has ever been. The new oil revenues are beginning to be seen. New roads, hospitals, schools and government buildings are going up. For the first time, a railway is being planned. But the gap between rich and poor is also widening. Longstanding discontent is deepening. The government has managed democratic processes to its advantage and has defeated rebel armies on the battle field. Terrorism is likely to be the next route by which opposition is expressed. Recent events in Nigeria make this more likely.

Prayer points

Sunday

Pray that God gives the churches strong prophetic leadership that looks beyond the immediate internal issues to the purposes of God. Pray that they will give a positive and godly  lead in the face of pressures to return to tribal traditions on the one hand and to the influx of Muslims populations into their home areas on the other.

Monday

The translation of the Chad Arabic New Testament has recently been completed. Pray for the printing, shipping and eventual distribution. Also for the production of an audio version and for a growing vision amongst churches and missions to put the NT to good effect.

Tuesday

It is quite possible that Boko Haram type groups will start operating in Chad. Pray that Christian leaders will be strong and respond according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh.

Wednesday

There is a new and flourishing Christian Schools movement spreading in the South and into the North. It provides good affordable education to people of all backgrounds. Pray for its potential to be realised.

Thursday

Christian radio has only recently come to Chad. Pray for more local stations and that each will be well led. Pray too for the production of more material in Chadian Arabic and other languages used by the unreached.

Friday

Pray for Believers of Muslim Background. Pray that they will be so filled with the love and knowledge of God that they may be able to stand against rejection, abuse and pressure to compromise. Pray that their stand in face of opposition will draw others.

Saturday

Pray that God will raise up workers from both within the country and from outside for the many harvest fields of Chad.

If you would like to know more about opportunities to serve the Lord in chad, contact us via the 'connect' page.

Mauritania

FROM 12-02-2012 TO 18-02-2012

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania

What is Mauritania? Desert all around, peace, wind that brings sand, a people with a spirit of freedom.

While most of the country is a barren desert of sand and rocks, there is a narrow belt in the south near the Senegal River Valley where the conditions are right for agriculture to prosper.

The government is a presidential form of democracy. After independence from

France in 1960, Mauritania has undergone a long succession of military

coups. The constitution declares Islam as the religion

of the people and state. The vast majority of the population practise moderate Sunni Islam but with folk magic mixed in. There is enormous social pressure against anyone converting to another faith.

Population 3.3 million people in 2010, with an annual growth of 2.4%.

Divided into roughly equal thirds: - White Moors, Black Moors, and Sub-Saharan Africans.

In 1970, 70% were nomadic, but drought and urbanisation have reduced this to less than 20% today. The capital, Nouakchott, has 729,000 inhabitants. 40% of the population is below 15 years of age. Life expectancy is 56 years. There is not strictly speaking a visible church - there are groups of believers and Christian activities but there are still many obstacles to overcome.

Workers, Opportunities, Languages & Security

It is not difficult for foreigners to get visas as tentmakers (mainly NGOs and businesses) to live in the country but it is a real challenge to be accepted in the local community which is very traditional and very family-based. The official language is Arabic. Moors speak an Arabic dialect: Hassaniya. French is largely used. AQIM, Al Qaida

in the Islamic Maghreb, is active in the whole Sahel region and sows fear with bomb attacks, kidnappings and

murders. Workers sometimes have to reduce their activities because of security risks.

For Prayer

Sunday -  Islam has been entrenched for 1000 years with little challenge. Pray for a spiritual awakening.

Monday -  Pray for religious freedom in Mauritania, that believers and seekers may grow in their understanding of Truth.

Tuesday -  Mauritania is one of the poorest countries in the world. Pray for the government to have wisdom and righteousness.

Wednesday -  Pray that the few expatriate Christians will clearly demonstrate the love of Christ in their lives and that they will give wise and powerful testimony. Pray for protection.

Thursday -  Pray that Mauritanian traders and herdsmen scattered throughout West Africa will have a chance to hear.

Friday -  Pray for unreached peoples: the Haratins - former slaves who are Moorish by culture and language; and the African peoples of the Senegal River Valley who have suffered much at the hands of Moor leaders.

Saturday - Almost everyone wears some type of magic charm around their necks and arms. They often feel they have no control over their own lives, and these practices bring a sense of security and hope. Pray that they would recognize and renounce spiritism and lies that set themselves up against God our righteousness that Jesus would disarm all the spiritual powers and authorities

Libya

FROM 05-02-2012 TO 11-02-2012

Introduction:

Libya has historically been one of the most closed countries to Christian witness in the Arab World and the people are much more conservative Muslims than in the neighbouring countries. There were only a handful of known Christians in 2011.

Muammar Gaddafi ruled for 42 years keeping the country divided along tribal lines, particularly East/West and imposing his own revolutionary ideas. There was no place for political parties or any organised opposition. In the wake of the 2011 revolution in Tunisia and Egypt, his people revolted demanding more freedom and an end to corruption. He was deposed at the end of 2011 after a bitter conflict causing much loss of life – some estimate many thousands. There is now a National Transitional Council (NTC) in place but there are still a multitude of decisions that must be made and implemented before average Libyans see improvements in their country.

Armed militia continue to cause disturbances in Tripoli despite a government call for them to lay down their arms and return to normal life. Much of the country was seeded with land mines that will take a long time to clear.

Many of the major cities have been devastated by shelling and much infrastructure is yet to be re-established. There will be much need of forgiveness as people who found themselves on opposite sides of the conflict try to rebuild the nation.

Prayer points:

Sunday: Pray that the tiny number of local believers will take heart and hear the Spirit’s leading, to be witnesses in a very sensitive situation.

Monday: Pray for God’s Spirit to direct the NTC to establish justice and righteousness and for the preparation of those who will form the new government, making them resistant to corruption and determined to work for the good of the Libyan people.

Tuesday: Pray for sub-Saharan Christians to have many opportunities to share their faith and that Africans who are in prison, accused of being Gaddafi’s mercenaries, will be protected from abuse and given a fair trial.

Wednesday: Significant numbers of Christians are entering the country as professionals. Pray that they will have opportunities to share the Gospel of hope and be able to offer appropriate practical help. Pray for wise decisions about the priorities of rebuilding.

Thursday: Pray that the militias will relinquish their arms and return to normal life; having confidence in the new transitional council. Pray for the resources for the mines to be completely cleared and for safety, particularly of children, meanwhile.

Friday: Expat believers, Bibles, Christian radio, satellite TV, and Internet sites are all available in Libya if people are determined to find them. Pray that the Lord will give hunger for the truth and that hearing will result in believing. Pray for dreams , visions, healings and miracles to take place to bring glory to Jesus, leading many to discover the Truth.

Saturday: Pray that God will lead all who suffered huge trauma and loss to discover the way of forgiveness and healing.

Tunisia

FROM 29-01-2012 TO 04-02-2012

Arab, Tunisian of Tunisia

In the first few centuries after Christ, a strong church was established in present-day Tunisia despite intense persecution from the Romans. Disunity, factions, and a failure to translate the Bible into the local languages weakened the church. When Arab invaders arrived in the 7^th century an empty shell of a church was all that existed. Islam spread rapidly and the Christian roots of the people were forgotten.

Ministry Obstacles

Few Tunisians are aware of their Christian heritage. They equate Christianity with Westerners and Western culture and do not view it as an option for themselves. They have been conditioned from birth to believe teachings that oppose the Bible and their cultural surroundings prevent them from considering anything different.

Outreach Ideas

Christian media (websites, TV, and radio programs) has generated a great interest in Jesus. Facebook, YouTube, and other websites are rising in popularity. Pray for creative ways to present the Gospel using these means.

Pray for the followers of Christ

Tunisians risk losing their jobs, losing their place in society, and pressure from the authorities when they become Christian. Many of them live far from any other Christians and have no opportunity for fellowship and discipleship. Pray that Tunisian Christians would be impassioned to reach their own people, sharing a clear, succinct, and reproducible Gospel presentation.

Pray for the entire people group

Pray for the Arabs to become aware of their spiritual bankruptcy before God.  Pray that Jesus would use dreams and visions to open their eyes and to show them that He is the only way to God.

Scripture Focus

“Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving whether by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:6

Prayer Points

Sunday - Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Tunisian Arab believers. -Pray that Tunisian Christians would be impassioned to reach their own people, sharing a clear, succinct, and reproducible Gospel presentation.

Monday - -Pray for completion of Bible translation in this people group’s primary language.

Tuesday - Ask God to strengthen the www.Pray4Tunisia.com *(www.Facebook.com/Pray4Tunisia) prayer network and use it strategically to engage the church to prayer as never before.

Wednesday -Pray for small prayer group leaders to emerge who will frequently gather to intercede for Tunisia. Pray for clear vision of what a simple, Biblical house church network in Tunisia will look like.

Thursday - Pray that whole families would come to faith in Jesus together.

Friday - -Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Tunisian Arabs that will seek to rapidly multiply. - Pray for the Tunisian church to become known for strong discipleship and rapid incorporation of new believers.

Saturday -Pray for strong national leaders to emerge and for these people to plant churches in every city and village in the nation.

Saudi Arabia

FROM 22-01-2012 TO 28-01-2012

Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a rich history steeped in desert culture. For thousands of years the Saudis have thrived in the heat and expanse of the Saudi desert. That desert life was forever altered about 70 years ago when 25% of the world's oil reserves were found beneath the sand. This oil has allowed the Saudi family to rule the country through the years. The Saudi government is also known to be a generous contributor to the propagation of Islam around the world.

One of the key tenets of Islam is a pilgrimage, Hajj, to Mecca at least once in a Muslim's life. Approximately two million Muslims from Saudi Arabia and around the world arrive there annually for the Hajj. Many come to fulfill a life's dream and attempt to be reconciled with Allah (God), but many leave disappointed at the experience. The most holy site within this holy city is the Great Mosque. Within the Great Mosque sits the Black Stone, a large black monolith that is central to the Hajj.

The Saudi population is, by government statistics, 100% Muslim. There are few local Christians among the Saudis. While there are many foreign Christians living and working in Saudi Arabia, churches for them are not officially permitted.

Christian missionaries are not allowed in Saudi Arabia. Any sort of proselytizing of the country's population is strictly forbidden. People accused of proselytizing will lose their jobs and may be imprisoned prior to deportation. Despite this, many Saudis are very approachable on the topic of religion. Many Saudis travel internationally, and it is quite easy to speak to them about Christ, especially when they are away from their homeland.

Sunday - Pray for more labourers to share the Gospel in Saudi Arabia. Pray for foreign Christians living in Saudi Arabia to live a life fully committed to Christ, sharing the Truth with the people around them. Pray that whole Saudi families would come to know Christ and grow in Him together.

Monday - Family, employment and social pressures cause incredible stress on believers who often struggle once they have come to faith in Jesus Christ. Pray for Saudi believers to grow in their walk with Christ and persevere in faith.

Tuesday -Pray for Saudis who travel and live abroad, that they might discover Christ while outside of Saudi Arabia.

Wednesday - Pray for every Saudi to have the opportunity to hear and receive the Gospel. Think of the number of times you have heard the gospel message, and yet there are people who have never even heard it once. Pray for them.

Thursday - Pray that more people in Saudi Arabia would hear about Christ through radio, satellite TV and the Internet.

Friday  - Pray that Muslims around the world will begin to experience deeper dissatisfaction with their faith as they bow toward Mecca. Pray that they will find Christ as the Great Shepherd. Pray that they will encounter Jesus even today as they go to the mosque to pray.

Saturday - Pray that Muslims who go to Mecca on the Hajj (pilgrimage) will not find contentment but will have visions and dreams of Jesus that will lead them to the truth.

Sources – Operation World, www.pray-ap.info, www.lovesaudis.com

Yemen

FROM 15-01-2012 TO 21-01-2012

      Yemen

Yemen is one of the oldest inhabited areas of the world. The country was once part of the Kingdom of Sheba (the famed Spice Route) whose queen brought rare and costly gifts to King Solomon. When Islam was born in the seventh century, Yemen was one of the first countries to follow the new religion and is home to two of the oldest mosques in the world.

For a number of years Yemen was divided. South Yemen was the world’s only Arab Marxist state. North Yemen was more traditional and tribal. After a brief civil war in 1994 the South was defeated and the country was united. But the reality is that fighting has continued, with different factions fighting against government forces, resulting in countless deaths. In recent days the 30 year rule of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has come to an end but not without many being killed in demonstrations. 100,000 have been displaced by conflicts in both the north and the south of the country.

Yemen is by far the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula and continues to struggle with poverty and under-development.  Though most Yemenis lived on farms or in small villages in the past, many, especially young people are moving to the cities. Illiteracy is among the barriers to the full penetration of the Gospel into Yemen.

Sunday - Though the numbers are growing, Yemeni believers face loneliness and constant pressure from relatives and authorities to recant. Pray that they will have courage and wisdom and that their numbers will increase.

Monday - Thank the Lord that audio and visual materials are being used to help those who are illiterate, hear the Gospel. Pray that these tools will reach many people.

Tuesday - Pray for micro-business opportunities to enable local believers to be financially independent.

Wednesday – In recent years there have been martyrs for the sake of the gospel in Yemen. Pray that the seed which has fallen into the ground would reap a harvest. Pray for those who still mourn and grieve the loss of those they loved. Pray that there would be more workers who would be willing to go and share the gospel with those who live without hope.

Thursday - Pray that God would give government leaders wisdom and that they would realize that the believers are a blessing, not a threat, to the country.

Friday - Many Yemenis listen regularly to Christian radio broadcasts as well as watch Christian TV shows. Pray that the Holy Spirit will capture the hearts of many Yemeni people through mass media.

Saturday - Most Yemenis are addicted to qat, a mild narcotic, that depletes the people of their health and economic resources. Pray for healing from this addiction. Pray that they will desire the Holy Spirit to control their lives, not this drug.

Sources – Operation World, Aljazeera, www.pray-ap.info

UAE

FROM 08-01-2012 TO 14-01-2012

   The UAE is a federation of seven states, called emirates, ruled by tribal chiefs called Sheiks or Emirs. Once a centre for piracy, it was known as the Pirate Coast before being subdued by British forces. It became a British protectorate in the 19th century and remained so until independence in 1971.

The development of the oil industry in the UAE has brought fabulous wealth and rapid modernization to the major population centres, as well as attracting many expatriates, Arabs, Asians, Africans and some Europeans.  UAE Nationals make up only 20% of the total population. The poorer emirates rely on the federal government (largely financed by Abu Dhabi) and the Dubai/Sharjah population hub for economic growth.

Religious tolerance is granted to Christians, and some churches and Christian schools are allowed to operate publicly in government-determined locations. Muslim evangelism is not allowed. Several imprisonments have occurred since 1992 for evangelism among Muslims.

In reality, the Church is nearly non-existent. It is believed that UAE has the smallest number of local believers of all Gulf states.

Sunday - Pray that the few national believers would continue to grow in their walk with Jesus and that the Holy Spirit would knit them together into a network of believers able to support, exhort and encourage each other.

Monday - Pray that the expatriate churches in each of the seven emirates would catch the vision to reach out to the unreached peoples in the UAE.

Tuesday - Pray for the powerful people in the UAE such as: Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahayan (President), Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Vice President & Prime Minister) and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahayan (Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi). Intercede for each of these men and ask God to reveal Himself and the truth of Jesus to them. Nothing is impossible for our God!

Wednesday - Several Christian medical agencies were invited in the 60’s to serve the people. Pray for these hospitals to continue to be a light and to find favour with the rulers. Pray that the Lord of the Harvest would send workers into this harvest field – those who will be willing to give up the comfort of home in order to share the gospel with those who are lost.

Thursday - Pray for justice, honesty, righteousness and truth in business dealings. Pray that new businesses being birthed by believers would be successful and blessed.

Friday - Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth labourers with good language, ministry and technical skills to live and minister in the UAE. There are many opportunities for professionals, but ‘the workers are few’. Pray that God would stir His people across the world to see the peoples of the Gulf as He sees them, sheep without a shepherd.

Saturday - There are more intentional believers in strategic locations across the country than ever before. Pray for opportunities to present the Gospel in all spheres of life where these believers live, work and minister.

Sources – Operation World and www.pray-ap.info

Bahrain

FROM 01-01-2012 TO 07-01-2012

Bahrain
Almost drowned out by the news from Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen during these past
months is the situation in Bahrain, a small island kingdom off the east coast of Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain is a rich and independent country in the Middle East. Its capital is Manama and it is connected by a causeway to Saudi Arabia.

There are more than 700,000 people in Bahrain and over 70% are Arabs while others are Egyptians, Iranians, Europeans and Asians.

There is generally more social freedom in Bahrain compared to other Arab states. For instance, women are not obliged to wear the black dress and veil.

It too has experienced unrest as the Shiite majority has chafed under the rule of a Sunni
minority. Clashes earlier in the year resulted in at least 35 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Of particular concern has been the treatment of those taken into custody. A report
commissioned by the king and released this week accuses the government of systematic
torture and excessive force against detainees.

Sunday - Pray for the lawyers, the judges and those in authority, that God will give them insight and wisdom, making decisions which are fair and just

Monday - Pray for courage and strategy for the Christians in Bahrain to share their faith and the truth of salvation to the people in Bahrain. Bahrain has the largest Arab Christian community in the Gulf states?most of whom are from other countries. No evangelism to Muslims is allowed. Pray that Christians would be able to have the courage to sensitively share their faith with others.

Tuesday - Pray for more workers to have the heart to go and share the gospel in this Muslim nation. Pray for expatriates to be bold in sharing the Gospel. Ask the Lord to give them opportunities to preach and demonstrate God's love.
(Ephesians 6:19)

Wednesday - Pray for Shia and Sunni Muslims to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and respond by putting their faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. (I Peter 3:15)

Thursday - Pray for the Lord to accomplish His plans and purposes for this nation. Pray for the salvation of the king. Ask the Lord to raise up leaders who will govern with integrity and in the fear of the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Friday - Pray for the government of Bahrain to be steadfast in combating terrorism and its financing. Pray for Bahrain to continue to actively monitor terrorist suspects.

Saturday – Pray for the ministry of satellite television, radio broadcasting and internet into the Middle East. Many are able to hear the gospel through these mediums. Pray for the follow-up of those who make enquiries and for their ongoing discipleship.

Information from Global Day of Prayer and Operation World

Christmas Around the World

FROM 25-12-2011 TO 31-12-2011

     Christmas  Around the World

‘For to us a child is born,and to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulders, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, and on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.’ Is 9:6-7

Sunday – Bethlehem. No matter where you stand politically or spiritually regarding the current state of Israel, as Christians we can unite on one front: prayer! Today, pray for the people of Bethlehem. Pray that this Christmas time many will understand its true significance in a real way. Pray for those who minister in Jesus name, that they will have opportunities to share over this period.

Monday – Prince of Peace. There are so many war torn situations around the world, and many millions who are living in fear for their lives, without any sense of peace. Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Tunisia, all come to mind. Pray for those who are displaced by war and this Christmas time are refugees, living on the edge, feeling abandoned and forgotten. Pray that even today God would speak into their lives to bring His peace and hope.

Tuesday – Justice and Righteouness. There are many situations of injustice, all around all. International Justice Mission is just one organisation which is seeking to raise the public profile and campaign for those who suffer injustice across the world. Their Christmas appeal, Advent Conspiracy, challenges us to re-examine how we celebrate Christmas and how we can change our spending so that others will know freedom. ‘Ask your church to consider joining forces so you can give rescue to victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression around the world. If it were used to give rescue, just 1% of the annual Christmas spending in the US could mean 1 million rescue operations – with the potential to free millions and put slave owners out of business for good.’ Pray that this campaign will have had a big impact, and will do so even now, and that the church which bears the name of Christ would act justly and in righteousness.

Wednesday – Emmanuel, God with us. What a wonderful truth this is and how it changes our lives when we grasp it. And yet so many today have no concept of God, coming to live with us, understanding our humanity, living a sinless life, being the perfect representation of God for us. Pray for all those who are living and working to see Christ known and loved amongst the unreached peoples of the world. Pray that as they live and incarnational life of love and service amongst the people that God has called them to, that HE would be revealed and be worshiped and adored.

Thursday – Celebrating in Security. In the last 10 years, a number of pastors in Colombia have been ordered by guerrilla rebels to close down their churches and, in some cases, leave the area. However, this year, several pastors in the most dangerous regions of Colombia have chosen to defy these long-standing orders and reopen. In doing so, they are facing life-threatening risks to themselves and their congregations because of their courage to begin meeting again on Sundays and throughout the week for worship, Bible study and prayer. Pray for these men of faith and courage as they lead their congregations in celebration over the Christmas period. Pray God’s protection on them, and for His word to be proclaimed with power!

Friday – Praying for Children.  As the population of the world exceeds 7 billion, the challenge to the Church is to reach and teach the children around us. In Sri Lanka children of Christian parents struggle in schools because no Christian teacher is around to provide them religious instruction, which is part of their grading system. When there is no Christian teacher in public schools, children have to study Buddhism or Hinduism and perform its rites. Please pray for the Lord to begin touching the hearts of believers who are willing and skilled to teach Christianity in Sri Lanka’s public schools.

Saturday – ‘The LORD of hosts shall do this’. The LORD of hosts, Jehovah Sabaoth is the Name of God we find used in Scripture when a man or woman is at the end of their rope so to speak -- Jehovah Sabaoth is the Strong Tower which God has made available for those times when we fail & are powerless, when our resources are inadequate, when there is no other help. And it is especially during those times that one comes to appreciate that God is truly the LORD of the armies & of all hosts. Pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are ‘at the end of their rope’ today, that the Lord would open their eyes, just as He did for Elisha’s servant, so see the spiritual reality of the great army that surrounds them.

Sources: Open Doors, International Justice Mission.

Europe in Crisis

FROM 18-12-2011 TO 24-12-2011

Europe in Crisis

There is little doubt that Europe is in crisis – not just economically, but morally and spiritually. Secularism and anti-religious social policies dominate in many countries, moral uncertainty has led to societal disintegration, and the freedom of public religious expressions continues to be eroded.  Humanly speaking the landscape for the Gospel looks quite bleak, but we believe in the power of prayer to bring about change!

Sunday – Immigrants in Europe. The population of immigrants from outside Europe probably now exceeds 30 million. This can be seen as a threat to traditional European identity or it can be regarded as an opportunity for the gospel as many come from countries where Christian witness is restricted. Pray for the Church to seize this opportunity for witness to the unevangelized.

Monday – Human Trafficking. Hundreds of thousands of people are illegally trafficked against their will into the EU, most of them women to be used in the sex trade. The majority of these come from Eastern Europe, but in fact women and children from every region of the world are enslaved into prostitution. Others are forced to work in inhuman conditions for low wages, while still others are forced to marry against their will to secure legal access for their bogus spouses. Pray for governments, faith groups and communities to band together to end these evils and see justice done for the victims.

Tuesday – Immigration is a boon and wake up call for the Church. The unevangelized are being brought to its doorstep, and at the same time Christian migrants are strengthening the Church. Praise God for the faith of migrants coming from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Pray for effective collaboration and partnerships between immigrant and indigenous churches, showing one unified body that will glorify Jesus and win Europe back to the gospel.

Wednesday  – Large areas of Central and Western Europe are truly post-Christian. These regions are some of the most devoid of spiritual life in the world and urgently need to be re-evangelized. Pray for the planting of many vibrant, witnessing groups of believers across the whole region. In 17 nations in Europe, evangelicals make up less than 1% of the population.

Thursday – Pray for Pastors, missionaries and others who continue to till the hard soil of the spiritually needy European communities. Stand with them for a breakthrough, for the rain of God’s blessing to fall, for transformation of lives and communities.

Friday – Unreached in Europe. Of the 400 peoples who live in Europe’s countries nearly 250 can be regarded as only partially evangelized at best and often completely unevangelized. Pray particularly for the Muslim ethnic groups from the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and the Balkans (including Bosniaks,  Albanians and Turks). Pray for workers who are focused on these groups, and for European believers to gain a greater burden for the lost on their own doorstep.

Saturday – The current economic crisis is affecting almost every country in the EU. Unemployment is rising. Debt , both personal and national is unprecedented, and violent protest has resulted in many cities. Pray that the disillusionment which many are experiencing will lead to a hunger and thirst for a spiritual answer. Pray that the Church would be able to speak into the need for a greater reality.

Could God be calling you to minister in Europe? If you would like to know more about Church Planting in Europe, why not contact WEC International? See the link on the 'Connect' page.

Greece

FROM 11-12-2011 TO 17-12-2011

  GREECE
Greece has a rich heritage: a country where the notion of democracy was conceived and the first European country to hear the gospel through the apostle Paul. It's ancient culture, language and philosophy has shaped the western world-view down through the centuries right up to today.
In recent history, Greece suffered 400 years of Turkish rule followed by German occupation and then a dictatorship before the current democracy. Tension between Turkey and Greece still remains especially over Cyprus. This has lessened since the 1999 earthquake which affected both countries, when each responded to the other's need generously.
European membership initially boosted and helped Greece's poor economy. Improvements were seen in industry, agriculture, tourism and shipping. It's maritime fleet is the largest in the world and it has an estimated 12 million tourists per year. However Greece’s economic and social travails of the past few years have caused much uncertainty, upheaval and disruption. The massive deficit and debt, the crisis of the Euro and the threat of financial meltdown regardless of what actions are taken cause fingers of blame to point in all directions. Protests and riots are increasingly common and frequently violent. It has amounted to a genuine shaking of the nation’s foundations.

Sunday -   Pray for those in authority that they will be given the wisdom of how to safeguard the poor and guide the nation through this crisis.

Monday -    Pray that such shaking might drive the nation to cry out to God rather than to trust in the obviously flawed financial solutions offered by economists and politicians.

Tuesday -     During the Turkish and German occupations, the Greek Orthodox church became the rallying point and symbol of Greek identity. Consequently all other expressions of Christianity are seen as harmful to the culture. 91.46% of Greeks will call themselves Christians and have a high regard for Orthodox institutions but little are involved in church activity. Pray for a spiritual shaking up, a revival.

Wednesday -     For the most part, Greeks do not believe that salvation is found by grace through faith in Christ, but rather that forgiveness of sin is received at infant baptism.They believe that the Scriptures are the supreme expression of God’s revelation to man. However the Bible, for them, does not govern the Church because ‘it was the Church that compiled the Bible.’ Orthodox Christians recognise both the deity and humanity of Christ but many have little idea of who Jesus really is or what they believe about Him. Pray that the grace and forgiveness of God through Jesus' sacrifice may be known and proclaimed. Pray that God's word will have it's proper place in the churches and homes. Many have never read the Bible or even possessed one.

Thursday -    There are only 0.4% evangelicals in Greece. It is the country the most in need for missionaries in all of Europe (including the former Eastern bloc countries and Albania). Pray for teams of church planters and Greek pastors to be raised up with a heart to reach the Greek people.

Friday -    There has been an increased openness to religious freedom of expression, if only on a legal level, as Greece comes to terms with the existence of large minorities in their midst and as the EU insists on increased religious liberties. Missionaries and evangelical Christians work in a climate of general suspiciousness and hostility towards them. Pray for encouragement and perseverance for them and for openness to the gospel in the hearts of the Greeks.

Saturday -     Ethnic minorities in the north are often ignored or marginalised. They are also the least reached in Greece. Pray that Christians will love them and reach out to them with the gospel. Many thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers pour into Greece every year from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and other places - from unevangelized nations. As much as 10% of those living in Greece are foreigners. Pray for more churches and Christians to get involved in witnessing to them through compassion with evangelism.

Sources: Operation World, WEC International, OM, Hellenic Ministries, BBC

.

Belgium

FROM 04-12-2011 TO 10-12-2011

Belgium
Belgium is a deeply divided nation. For 2,000 years, its territory has straddled the cultural divide between the Latin/Romance and Germanic worlds. Throughout centuries it has also been the location of major battlegrounds, the latest, in World War I and II.
Walloon (a majority French speaking area) - Flemish (a majority Dutch speaking area) rivalry and resentments colour the use of language, the economy, politics, religious life and the worldviews of both communities. The growing immigrant population adds a third angle to this dynamic. Tensions between the two main language groups have brought down several governments in the past and have resulted in the most recent political impasse. After a World record breaking 482 days without a government, feuding sides have agreed on a significant insitutional reform that transfers more power to the regions. There are still details to work out and agree upon between the rival Flemish and Walloons such as a common government platform.

Sunday -     Thank the Lord that a way forward has been made. Pray that national leaders at every level may have wisdom regarding this complex challenge. The desperate need to find some national common ground, identity, reconciliation and peace can be seen in the latest idea to re-model the medieval Flemish flag; ridding the lion of it's claws, as concerns that its aggressive image fuels intolerance amongst the communities.

Monday -   Pray for the authorities: for the Monarchy, (the king is respected on both sides) and for national and local government, that those serving in these roles will have the strength to lead with righteousness and integrity, and will remain open to God's Word and Spirit.

Tuesday -  Belgium has been united in outrage over the sex abuse scandal in the Roman Catholic Church. An internal church commission last year found that child sex abuse by clergy or church workers had taken place in every RC congregation in Belgium since the 1950's. Pray for the many victims and their families, for healing and reconciliation with the Lord.

Wednesday -    Praise the lord that the Evangelical church's major strength is now unity after a divisive history. Pray that the Church might continue in unity and be a true, holy and profound example of community to the wider society, showing the way to real forgiveness, reconciliation and peace between the communities in Belgium.

Thursday -   While only at a modest 1.2% of the population, evangelical faith in Belgium has never been stronger. While growth is most prominent among Pentecostals, the more conservative churches in Flanders and Wallonia see an increase through determined church planting and relational witness. Pray for strong discipleship in Churches.
Pray for the growth of the Gospel in Belgium, for 345 new churches to be planted by 2015 (statistic from DAWN 2000)

Friday -   NATO and the European Union have their headquarters in Brussels. Pray for this strategic city, especially in this current Euro debt crisis, where decisions are made that have influence across Europe and around the world.

Saturday -    Pray for refugees and asylum seekers: that they will find love and a welcome among Belgian people, and that the churches in the big cities will be equipped to serve and support them.

Sources: Operation World, 24/7 prayer, BBC, Telegraph, France 24

France

FROM 27-11-2011 TO 03-12-2011

   FRANCE
The country at the heart of political Europe and a key player on the World stage, it is the 6th largest economy in the World. Its influence has not just been in today's times. In the last 300 years it produced Europe's most noted and influential philosophers and writers. In the last 200 years it dominated the Arts. Their pride in their philosophy, language and culture has led to a general feeling of superiority of civilisation. Many still think colonisation was not a bad thing. In the last few years there has been a push for more International French schools in an effort to propagate the French language, culture, philosophy and civilisation abroad.

Sunday -    Pray for France's leaders as their decisions and policies can have crucial effects on other countries, not just the French people, especially over the Euro-zone. The economic bond between France and Germany was central to European integration, the Euro, and now to it's continuation. Pray for them for wisdom in the serious current Euro crisis. President Nicholas Sarkozy has recently stated that "If the Euro explodes, Europe explodes".

Monday -   Evangelical Christians are few, only 1%. 51% call themselves Catholic but barely 8% attend church. Pray for France to be an influence in bringing back revival and blessing to Europe and the World. When France rejected the move of God 300 years ago, the rest of the World was enriched by the numerous believers that fled to other countries. Praise the Lord that Huguenots are being called back to France and to intercede for France. Many believe it is the time for the spiritual children of France to return and re-ignite the hearts of the French with revival fire. God still has a great time and purpose for France.

Tuesday -   Though Evangelicals are few, Praise the Lord there has been steady growth. There has also been great strides in recent years towards co-operation between denominations and believing Catholics. Pray for deepening unity within churches themselves, between denominations and between the indigenous French churches and immigrant churches. As the churches move forward and grow, so the attacks on unity also grow.

Wednesday -   The fastest growth of evangelical churches has been among the immigrant population. Nevertheless the task to reach them with the Gospel is huge. France has the highest number of Muslims in Europe, 10% of the French population. High levels of unemployment, discrimination, hopeless frustration and antagonism between them and the indigenous French majority make for a ticking time bomb. Pray for the churches and agencies seeking to breakdown the barriers and to bring them to Christ; and for more Christians to reach out to them.

Thursday -     There are more people earning a living in occult practices than there are registered doctors, and they are 10 times as many as evangelical pastors and missionaries in France. The spiritual vacuum created by aggressive secularism has been filled with witchcraft and esotericism, since most French have no meaningful contact with dynamic Christian faith. For 10 years now, evangelical pastors and congregations of all denominations have committed themselves to a "sustained prayer for France", in particular during the 40 days of lent. Encouragingly they are beginning to see an opening up of French people to Christianity. However prayer must not waver but keep pressing on to bring down the spiritual strongholds over France.

Friday -    France remains a difficult ground for church planting. Many missionaries and pastors become discouraged and give up. Finance is also a big issue. French employment laws makes hiring a pastor too difficult or impossible for the many small churches. Another financial burden is the need for a building. Without a building, evangelical churches have no credit in society and rather are seen as a dangerous cult. Pray for the grace, endurance, finance and faith needed to establish the goal of 4,200 new fellowships set by the CNEF*. One church for every 10,000 people.

Saturday -    Anti-semitism, Islamophobia and now anti-Christian sentiments are hot topics making the news. Following increasingly graphically rude anti-Christian theater plays being shown, debate has arisen over if and where boundaries to freedom of expression should be made. Pray that the authorities will have the desire and strength to lead and guide the country to genuinely respecting it's Christian heritage and morals. Pray that the media and arts culture turn instead towards it's promotion. President Nicolas Sarkozy has said "Religion's place in France at the beginning of the third millennium is central".

*CNEF = National Council of French Evangelicals, initiated in 2001.

Sources: Operation World, Prayerforfrance, France 24

Tajikistan

FROM 20-11-2011 TO 26-11-2011

  Tajikistan

Religious freedom is guaranteed by the constitution but fear of radical Islam prompts the government’s attempts to control all religious expression and to pass draconian religious laws. There is a Sunni Muslim majority with small Shia and Ismaili minorities.

After the Soviet collapse, civil war broke out with various regional warlords fighting for power until 1997. Secular national forces prevailed and continue to shape political and religious policy.  The civil war left an indelible mark on the nation, which is still recovering more than ten years later. Hardship is widespread, with 83% of the population under the poverty line. The most vulnerable segments of society particularly at risk are prisoners, elderly widows and orphans (Operation World).

Sunday

The Christian population has been massively reduced by emigration. It was and remains largely Russian Orthodox but the civil war and its aftermath drove out the majority. Pray for those  who remain to be awakened from nominalism and to receive a vision to share the gospel with the indigenous peoples.

Monday

Although Islam is the religion of 94% of the population, only a small fraction practice “pure” Islam. Most are more influenced by folk superstitions and Zoroastrian beliefs. Pray for extremism to be restrained, and that Muslims might have unprecedented opportunities to discover Christ.

Tuesday

Tajiks number 13 million in Central Asia. For nearly a thousand years, there was no significant outreach to Tajiks. Now in addition to more than a 1,000 believers in Tajikistan, there are a greater number of Tajik believers in Afghanistan as well as some in Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Pray for further growth, and pray for the establishment of a truly indigenous Tajik Church.

Wednesday

Freedom of religion exists but barely.  To prevent the growth of extremism in Islam, the government introduced many restrictions that place a stranglehold on Christian ministry. Religious teaching, publishing and proselytism is made very difficult if not illegal. Registering churches is also very difficult. Pray for the gospel to spread and Christians to find ways to teach and minister despite these harsh restrictions.

Thursday

Transworld Radio broadcasts in Tajik for 90 minutes per week. Various agencies broadcast in Uzbek 2.5 hours per week. There are many programmes in Farsi that can be understood. Many Farsi and Russian religious programmes are available by satellite and watched by many in Tajikistan. There are also a few websites that share the gospel in Tajik. Pray for these broadcasts and ministries to have an impact and that more people might listen and receive these life changing words.

Friday

Uzbeks are the largest minority in Tajikistan, with an approximate population of 1.7 million. Though there are a number of Uzbek believers in Tajikistan today, there are almost no Uzbek churches. Pray for the establishment of Uzbek churches that can effectively reach out to their own people in a culturally appropriate way.

Saturday

Tajikistan is ripe for Christian ministry done sensitively and appropriately. Relief and development are much needed and fruitful ministries, as are education and business training. Young people, prisoners, drug addicts and women in difficult situations are particularly responsive. Pray for the calling and entry of more long-term personnel to work and live in Tajikistan.

Uzbekistan

FROM 13-11-2011 TO 19-11-2011

  Uzbekistan

Samarkand was the 14^th Century capital of Tamerlane’s vast Mongol/Turkic Empire. Russian colonial rule existed from  1865 to 1917 but Uzbekistan became independent as a democratic republic in 1991. A multiparty republic in name only. Tokens of ethnic and Islamic culture were adopted as cover for a policy of no change. Torture of dissidents; the massacre of hundreds of protesters in 2005 brought worldwide attention and condemnation. The autocratic dictator is in control as firmly as in Communist times and the country has close political ties to Russia, Uzbekistan retains a strategic position in Central Asia.

Uzbekistan is a secular state promoting a moderate, tightly controlled form of Islam. The growing Islamist movement is handled with venom by the state. Christians are third-party victims of this struggle. Believers among non-Muslim minorities have more freedom. Ethnic Uzbek Christians receive particularly harsh treatment. Proselytizing of Muslims is illegal (Operation World).

Sunday

Uzbek believers continue to increase despite great opposition. The prospects of retribution from three sides – the government, local Muslim leaders and the community (family and neighbours) – has not halted growth. There are now probably more than 10,000 Uzbek believers where there were  possibly none only a generation ago. Give God praise for this and continue to pray that Uzbeks will be added to the church daily.

Monday

Pray for the discipling and mentoring of new believers. No one knows how many isolated individuals and clusters exist, but there are far more than those affiliated with officially recognized churches. Many fall away when difficulties intensify. Pray that Christians might be integrated quickly into home groups or fellowships where they can grow.

Tuesday

Pray for local believers who are accused of being cultural/religious traitors and “rice Christians”. Pray for gentleness and humility as well as right motives for all those who seek to integrate into churches.

Wednesday

Pray for indigenous leaders to be raised up. Bible training for this infant Church is urgently needed, as is spiritual maturity and godliness. Fast-growing churches need quality leaders even more urgently.

Thursday

Ask the Lord to raise up culturally appropriate Uzbek Christian literature, music, worship styles and fellowship structures. Pray for the Uzbek ministry-training courses beginning to emerge. These are led and taught by Uzbeks and have been significantly fruitful.

Friday

Expatriate Christians serving the Lord in Uzbekistan have almost all been expelled and foreign agencies shut down – a mixed blessing as it forces the indigenous Church to unite, mature and stand firm. Pray that those whom the Lord has called to minister to Uzbeks might find ways and places to serve them and win them to Christ.

Saturday

Bible translation and distribution are ongoing tasks. Pray for the translation of the OT and a more understandable revision of the NT in Uzbek. Pray for the government-recognized Uzbek Bible Society, that it may play a key role in distributing the Bible and printing additional Christian literature. It is allowed to exist, but is heavily restricted in terms of importing or printing Christian materials. Scriptures are not legally for sale anywhere else in the country.

Central Asia

FROM 06-11-2011 TO 12-11-2011

        CENTRAL ASIA

INTRODUCTION

Where the landmasses of Europe and Asia meet are the countries referred to as Central Asia. Many of the peoples of this region have been nomads through the centuries, following their flocks and herds over mountains and grasslands in a cycle that swings from season to season. The region has historically been a crossroads for trade and travel, with the Silk Road its best known network of trade routes. Islam is the dominant religion. The atheistic years of the Soviet Union fostered a growth in secularism, but now increasing Islamization is the current trend. There are dozens of languages spoken here, with Turkic and Iranian languages predominating. Praise God that gradually the Bible is being translated into both national and minority languages in the area. Your prayers will assist these ministries.

Sunday-  For years a project to translate the Scriptures into a major language of Central Asia struggled to move forward. Praise God, it has now been established on a much stronger footing. The translation team has grown to five members. They hope to complete the New Testament in 2015 and the Old Testament around 2022. Pray for protection and enabling for each member. A local believer is in the process of taking over management of the project. This is a big step for him; pray that God will give him insight, commitment, leadership gifts, and great wisdom.

Monday -  Pray for a team in Central Asia working with minority language groups who live in remote locations. While good progress has been made among some of these communities, there is still much to be done. But now at the end of 2011, both the regional director and the minority language coordinator have to be based outside the region to better address their children’s education needs.  Pray for effective communication and continued progress despite the scattered team.

Tuesday -  Praise God, a translation of the full Bible in one of the major languages of Central Asia was published this year! Both print copies and digital versions are available. Pray that they will spread widely among this people group and that those who might not be able to locate a printed copy of the Scriptures would find digital copies. As people encounter God’s Word, may they come to faith in Jesus, the Living Word.

Wednesday -  The translation of the whole Bible has also been completed in another major language and should be published by early 2012. Praise God for the team that has persevered through years of work to see this project finished. Pray for accurate typesetting, careful printing and timely transport of the books to the language area. Pray that these people would have hearts ready to receive the Word and for much fruit from their receiving it.

Thursday -  The ever-expanding variety of electronic communication tools is a great blessing and enables team members to work together effectively even when they live far apart. But virtual teams also struggle with special challenges. Good communication skills are needed when people can’t work face to face, and this is even more necessary when working across culture and language barriers. Misunderstandings can easily occur. A team translating the Bible for a language in Central Asia has members living in Thailand, Germany, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and USA, in addition to those in the language heartland. Pray earnestly for this team.

Friday - A language group of over one million speakers is waiting for the Scriptures to be available in their mother tongue. After many difficulties and delays, the translation team now hopes to complete the New Testament by the end of 2013. Pray that God will strengthen each member of the team and enable them to move steadily forward. There are still questions about some key terms and about how best to distribute the translated Scriptures. Pray for insight and wisdom in each of these choices.

Saturday -  In some Central Asian countries, communities do not welcome Christian ministries. As a result, a number of expatriate translation teams are unable to live and work among the language communities for whom they are translating. They continue working in other locations, but they have an ongoing challenge of finding mother tongue speakers to help with the projects. It is vital that people are found who can check translated Scripture passages for naturalness and clarity. Please pray that God would direct these teams to mother tongue speakers who are living outside the home country and who would be willing to help.

Kazakhstan

FROM 30-10-2011 TO 05-11-2011

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan declared independence after the collapse of the USSR in 1991. Although a multiparty democracy, the only president since 1991 has continued his authoritarian rule and presided over recognizably tainted elections. Increased Kazakh influence in all aspects of state activity is being pursued.

Under Communism all religion was suppressed. Today, only the traditionally recognized can operate freely. Increased Islamist agitation has caused the government to continually consider increasingly oppressive religion laws. These laws have subsequently had an effect on the newer and more active Christian denominations and can be used to limit, restrict and even persecute Christians (Operation World).

Sunday

Give God thanks and praise that the Kazakh Church continues to grow in number and stature. From virtually no Kazakh believers in 1990 to some 15,000 in 2010. Pray for further growth and maturation of believers.

Monday

Pray that Kazakhstan will have a government with the best interest of all its citizens in mind and that it will use the newfound wealth being created in the country to benefit all.

Tuesday

Despite having a very diverse population, social cohesion is generally good. Pray for continued stability. Pray also that there might be a healthy appreciation of cultural minorities and that this will strengthen the nation.

Wednesday

Kazakhstan’s cultural and religious diversity provides many opportunities for evangelizing Central Asian peoples. A number of Uzbeks and Uyghurs are turning to Christ. Pray that the gospel might be shared, in the listener’s language, in the many towns and villages of this sprawling land.

Thursday

There were a  healthy number of Bible colleges and seminaries as well as discipleship schools but which have had to shut down because of changes in the law. Training for the church is vital. Pray that appropriate models of training and mentoring might be developed and for programmes that develop informed, well-trained, godly leaders.

Friday

Persecution is increasing. Harassment from authorities, from strident Muslims and from unbelieving family members makes life difficult, especially for converts outside the two main cities. Pray for those facing persecution that they might be given courage and have great endurance and patience.

Saturday

There is widespread dysfunction and brokenness in many Kazakh families. Alcoholism and drug addiction are widespread; heroin is easy to obtain as alcohol. Pray for those Christian agencies that are working with broken lives  and pray also that Christians might have a powerful transforming effect on society as they demonstrate Christ’s love.

Fiji

FROM 23-10-2011 TO 29-10-2011

Fiji

The Republic of Fiji is a tropical paradise 2,500 kilometres north of New Zealand.

In many ways, it is the economic and political hub of the Pacific. Tourism and sugar are the mainstays of the economy.

Living on an archipelago of beautiful islands, the population of 850,000 consists of 52% indigenous Fijians and 37% Indians (originally brought as indentured labourers). The remaining 11% others include Pacific Islanders, Europeans and a small, but influential, Chinese community.

The gospel first came to Fiji in 1835 with the arrival of Methodist missionaries and eventually all the indigenous people were Christianised. However, there has been little impact on the Indian community which is less than four per cent Christian. The remainder are 82 per cent Hindu (including Gujarati and Sikh) and 15 per cent Sunni Muslim.

Sunday : There has been a history of rival ethnicities and segregation amongst the Indigenous Fijians and the Indian communities, pray for a spirit of repentance and reconciliation and for a society marked by freedom and equality.

Monday:  Pray the Holy Spirit's power will break through the major social ills of broken homes and alcoholism.

Tuesday: With a history of four coups in the last two decades, pray that righteousness and justice might be established in the ruling of this country, and that democratically elected governments be followed.

Wednesday: Pray for increased unity amongst the churches in Fiji.

Thursday: Pray for culturally appropriate outreach methods to the Indian Hindus and that those who believe will become real disciples, not merely surface converts.

Friday: Pray for the  Muslim community who are a tightly knit group and very resistant to the gospel.  Pray for protection for those who do become Christians as they face considerable persecution. Pray too that more Christians will be challenged to reach out to these people.

Saturday: Fiji has serious sociological problems amongst its youth, pray for those specifically ministering to young people that they will meet these needs while showing the love of God.

Australia

FROM 16-10-2011 TO 22-10-2011

Australia

Although the vision of one Australian founder was for it to be 'the great southland of the Holy Spirit', Christianity in Australia today is in a state of flux. Whilst it is nominally growing, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam & every other major world religion are all statistically growing even faster. The number of Australians stating they hold no religion has also grown. It is encouraging that nearly 70% of Australians still list their faith as 'Christian', though only 20% regularly attend church.

Issues such as euthanasia, homosexual marriage, and the legal/financial validity of Christian ministries are currently being debated in Australian society and government. The church has not always effectively stood as one unified body to speak God's word into these issues. Christian welfare, health and educational institutions are overall well regarded, and provide many essential services to the community. A growing number of prayer networks across the country have been another highlight of the church, especially in the last 10 years.

Australian society, including the church, has recognised the negativity of their relationship with indigenous Australians in their 200+ year history. Formal apologies to Aboriginal Australians have taken place at local and national levels over recent years, but a lot of work still needs to be done to heal hurts and bring reconciliation between indigenous & non-indigenous Australians.

Sunday: Praise God for a history of God being at work in this country, and ask Him to continue His work amongst people of all backgrounds who live here. Ask God to give wisdom to church leaders on what their part is in what God is doing.

Monday: Pray for specific ministries to people of other faiths in Australia - undertaken both by churches and by missionaries who have chosen to live here and minister cross-culturally with one purpose: to show God's love to those who struggle to hear him through 'traditional' means.

Tuesday: Pray for unity in the body of Christ - that the love Christians in Australia have for each other would be as  Jesus prayed for them, and so the world will see them as His disciples.

Wednesday: Pray that church & parachurch ministries, present in just about every area of Australian society from young children in day care right through to the aged in nursing homes, would have an impact on Australian society. Praise the Lord that there is open opportunity for Australians to interact with genuine followers of Jesus.

Thursday: Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak into the hearts and minds of Australia's lawmakers, comprised of both Christian and openly secular members - that God's authority, and not man's, would rule in this country.

Friday: Pray that relationships between indigenous and non indigenous Australians would be God-honouring and would lead to indigenous Australians finding a faith that is their own, and not that of 'the white man'.

Saturday: Pray for the Australian church to be burdened for those living in countries where there is not the same access to the gospel as in Australia, and to support missionaries sharing Jesus in those countries. Numbers of Australians serving as missionaries have decreased in the last 10 years - pray for this trend to be reversed.

East Timor

FROM 09-10-2011 TO 15-10-2011

Timor Leste (East Timor)

One of the newest countries in the world, politically and financially 'it will take decades for East Timor to be restored to the place where it can stand on its own' (Operation World, 2011). It is ranked number 162 out of the 182 poorest countries in the world.

With a population that is over 81% Catholic, protestants, including protestant missionaries, are treated with suspicion. However their Catholicism is permeated with spiritism - as often is evangelical Christianity. Several mission agencies, including WEC, YWAM & the Church of the Nazarene co-operate well together here. Their ministries include reasonably well-established ministries to children - nearly half (45%) of all Timor Leste's citizens are under 15 years old, so this is a group who can change the future of the country spiritually and physically.
An advantage of this country having a church-based population is openness for Christian material to be shared in public.

A key challenge is a lack of available Christian resources in a language that the majority of people can understand. Thirteen of the country's people groups have no scripture whatsoever in their language.

Sunday: Praise God for the openness of at least one local TV station to show the Jesus film and Christian drama videos. Pray that as more programs are made available, God's Word in them will touch people's hearts (for the full story, visit https://www.facebook.com/notes/wec/bible-stories-and-videos-open-doors/10150304388055489)

Monday: Pray that ongoing Christian radio broadcasts will find hearers who are ready to explore who Jesus really is, and for effective follow-up of those who respond.

Tuesday: Physical conditions can be rough for missionaries here, especially in outlying areas. Pray for God's protection upon them, and for their lives to be a witness to those around them that the Christian world cares for them.

Wednesday: Praise God that evangelical Christianity has grown slightly over the last 10 years. Pray that those who come to truly know Christ will be protected from persecution and the temptation to put their trust in traditional idols/spirits.

Thursday: Holistic ministry - addressing both the spiritual and physical needs of the Timorese - is essential. Pray for the several agencies working to help Timorese find freedom physically as well as spiritually.

Friday: Pray for stability for the government of this small country, and for the Holy Spirit to challenge leaders at every level of both the church & the country so they will assist those who bring Good News.

Saturday: One team asks us to pray 'that East Timor will become a country that sends missionaries to the world' - do you have enough faith to pray for this?

Bible Translation in Australasia

FROM 02-10-2011 TO 08-10-2011

Bible Translation in Australasia

Across the Pacific Ocean are thousands of islands with many diverse cultures and languages. Although the gospel has come to be accepted by most of them, the Word of God in their mother tongues is still needed by many. Together with the Indonesian archipelago, the islands of the Pacific represent one of the greatest remaining needs for Bible translation. Thousands of Pacific Christians are partnering with local churches and believers from around the world to translate and distribute the Scriptures for their own people and for their neighbors. Because many Pacific societies are strongly oral cultures, organizations that record audio and video versions of the Scriptures also play a vital role in reaching people with God's message in the Pacific realm.

Sunday –  Many churches in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) held a “Celebrate Bible Translation” event in early September. To date, ten language communities in PNG have the whole Bible in their language, about 230 have the whole New Testament, and translation work is going on in 250 more languages. Praise the Lord and celebrate the good things He has done!

Monday – Vanuatu is made up of more than 80 islands; about 65 are inhabited. Many mother tongue translators are working quietly in their villages on these islands. They do not necessarily receive thanks or praise. Pray that God will bless them with a deeper knowledge of Him and that God's Spirit will help them to keep on with the work.

Tuesday – Pray for the seventeen villages that make up the Tainya Dawari language community as they work towards setting up a translation committee to bring direction to their work. Ask the Lord for godly men and women to embrace the vision of Bible translation and commit themselves to serve as leaders. After the Translation Awareness workshop that was conducted at the end of May 2011, the people committed themselves to raise funds towards a translation workshop planned for next year.

Wednesday – Praise the Lord for the positive progress that Ubir storytellers are making in their language community, using oral Bible Storytelling to share the Gospel. In each church visited, they shared Bible stories in place of the traditional sermon preaching, with good responses. The team also shared Bible stories with schools. This resulted in a further request to teach the storytelling principles to elementary teachers during their in-service program. Storytelling clubs have also been introduced to share and teach the skill of telling Bible stories to many others. Pray for upcoming Bible storytelling workshops—that many more will learn these skills.

Thursday – The approximately 2,500 people of the Fas language group live between the Beewani Mountains and the coast of Sandaun Province in Papua New Guinea. Translation was begun and Scripture portions published in the 1980s, but no translation has been done for almost 25 years. Pray that God will provide workers to restart the translation program.

Friday – Praise God for the translators and consultants involved with the Isles of the Sea cluster project, which includes the Carolinian, Cemuhi, Pukapuka, Kapingamarangi Nukuoro (Old Testament), and Paici languages of various Pacific Islands. Pray for endurance and strength for all of them as they work to publish New and/or Old Testaments during the next three years. Some of these workers have been trained in audio recording and editing; pray that they will use these skills to produce audio versions of translated Scripture that will greatly impact local people. Praise God that these projects enjoy support from their local communities.

Saturday – Pray for the Molata, Giwau, and Miyalabi peoples of Goodenough Island in Papua New Guinea. They are waiting for help to translate the Bible into their Diodio language. They attend church enthusiastically but their personal relationship with God is limited due to not having the Bible in their language. Many people, even pastors, continue their traditional religious practices.

If you would like to know more about Bible Translation, go to www.wycliffe.net.

If you would like to know more about any of the people groups mentioned here, go to www.joshuaproject.net.

Wycliffe in Asia

FROM 25-09-2011 TO 01-10-2011

Current Events

Several politicians from other countries have visited Myanmar recently. Pray for good relations and diplomacy at the international level, as well as the development of policies that would benefit the people of Myanmar and encourage the country's development.

Also, pray for peace, respect and reconciliation between the government and ethnic groups. Fighting has been taking place in several minority group areas where disagreement over cease-fire group rights, issues related to displacement of villages from hydroelectric sites, mineral rights and other issues have resulted in armed clashes.

Pray for the church to continue to lead in peacemaking and reconciliation, and for wisdom and faith in difficult situations.

Development in Myanmar

World Concern is working in Myanmar to help more villages use sustainable farming practices, improve their agricultural techniques, and gain access to basic health care. Pray for more local workers to be trained so that their efforts can extend to more villages. Pray for the villages that have been introduced to better farming techniques, that they will continue to have good yields from these practices and that their economic situation will continue to improve.

To read more see:

http://donate.worldconcern.org/page.aspx?pid=629

Chin People Groups

Pray for the many Chin people groups of western Myanmar. Many Northern Chin groups have significant numbers of Christians. One of the challenges they face is disunity—pray for unity especially among the churches and Christian groups. Pray that God would use the Northern Chin church to reach out to other groups in Myanmar.

Pray for the Southern Chin groups, who have fewer Christians and more needs for Scripture translation and literacy materials. Pray that each group needing language development would be identified and reached with the Word of God in their heart language.

Pray for language groups who are divided over whose dialect will be the 'standard', that they may find solutions which serve their people well. Pray for wise leaders who are able to draw people together in fellowship and love.

To learn more about various Chin languages go to :

http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-selector.php?RegionCode=2&PeopleID1=All&lr=All&bible=0&rog3=BM&PeopleID2=207&unengaged=All&NTOnline=All&window=All&relgn=All&jppscale=0&jfilm=All&popop=%3D&popl=All&adherents=0&evangelical=0&audio=0&respp=All&btnSubmit=Submit

(This also includes Naga languages; most of the Chin languages start with 'Chin' or 'Zomi'.)

Unreached Peoples in Asia – The Ersu

FROM 18-09-2011 TO 24-09-2011

The Ersu are officially part of the Tibetan nationality. There has never been a known church or Christian among the Ersu. Various mission agencies have worked among related groups in the past but no outreach has ever been undertaken to the Ersu.

There are approximately 40,000 Ersu living in China.

Sunday - The Ersu believe they will be reincarnated when they die and will come back to the earth as a person in a higher social position if they have lived a virtuous life. They will come back as an animal if they lived a wicked life. This belief results in the Ersu having little motivation to help the afflicted among them, as suffering is considered the consequence of a person's bad karma. Pray that the Lord’s compassion will break into their worldview .

Monday – No Bible translation exists in the Ersu language. Pray that the Lord will raise up workers who can begin this process. God’s Word is the means for transformation.

Tuesday – Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to the Ersu.

Wednesday – Pray for teams of intercessors who will pray for the Ersu. In the early 20^th Century, J.O Fraser worked amongst a related group, the Lisu, and it was through persistent intercession by Fraser’s mother and others that the breakthrough finally came.

Thursday - There may be no followers of Christ among the Ersu at present, but pray for those that will soon emerge. Pray they will be zealous to know and serve the Lord, and will be properly instructed in the faith.

Friday - Pray the Ersu community will increasingly become aware of their need for a savior, and that many will be given faith to believe in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.

Saturday - The Ersu may fear disturbing community harmony if they become followers of Christ. Pray that the love of God will drive out that fear.

To read more about the inspirational story of J.O Fraser go to http://www.jofraser.org/

Myanmar (Burma)

FROM 11-09-2011 TO 17-09-2011

Myanmar is a deeply fractured nation on a political, ecclesiological and especially ethnic level. The military junta has both pillaged and stunted the economy so that the former "rice bowl of Asia" sees two-thirds of its children malnourished. It is a very fertile country with high mountains, rich mineral deposits and offshore oil deposits.  It is physically and politically cut off from the outside world. The military regime recognizes the special status of Buddhism in the country. It is the primary source of persecution against minority groups, which include Christians. Although the constitution guarantees religious freedom, faiths other than Buddhism face restrictions. Christians are prohibited from buying or renting properties for their activities. New believers are pressured to return to Buddhism both by their families, who see conversion as a betrayal of the country, and by Buddhist monks, who traditionally hold power in the villages. Most believers live in Chin State, and are very poor.

A policy of systematic violence against certain minorities results in destroyed villages, rape, torture, uprooted populations and international condemnation. Great suffering is inflicted upon such peoples as the Karen, Chin, Shan, Mon and Wa with Karen and Chin particularly sought out due to their Christian faith and separatist militias.

PRAY FOR

Sunday -   seemingly impossible ethnic harmony & peace. Only the power of god can make ‘neither Jew nor Greek’ a reality in this land.

Monday -    a change in the corrupt national leadership so that the people are valued.

Tuesday -   good leadership training in the church. Pray especially for women lay leaders and pastors' wives, who silently submit to domestic violence.

Wednesday -  effective church planting among the millions of unevangelised peoples.

Thursday -    renewal and revival in the church.
Friday -   There has been severe famine is Chin State since 2008. Pray for pastors' families, who sometimes have nothing to eat but rats.

Saturday -  For opportunities to learn about new crops that the rats will not ravage - and other livelihood skills. Pray for Christian NGO’s which seek to meet the very great needs in the country.

To watch a video helping you to pray for Myanmar, go to http://prayercast.com/myanmar-burma

Nepal

FROM 04-09-2011 TO 10-09-2011

A mountainous Himalayan state between China (Tibet) and India whose socio-economic needs remain a huge challenge in this beautiful but troubled land. It is one of the world's poorest countries.

Once the world's only Hindu Kingdom, Nepal is officially a secular democracy. Hindu fundamentalism has increased in recent years. The Prime Minister resigned in 2010 and the government remains insolvent. Subsistence agriculture occupies up to 90% of the population who comprise many South Asian and Tibetan-Himalayan groups.

The church grew from 29 Christians in 1952 to 856,000 in 2010. This was achieved by a willingness to suffer for the gospel, profound prayerfulness and Nepali-driven long term commitment to evangelism and church planting.

YOUNG PEOPLE comprise two thirds of Nepal's population - one of the world's youngest and fastest growing. Most live in rural areas where they are deprived of education and opportunity. Illiteracy is widespread. Young people are vulnerable to economic exploitation, sex trafficking, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and radicalisation (political and religious).

The NEXT GENERATION of Nepali Christians must build on the good foundation laid by their elders. LEADERSHIP TRAINING is possibly the most urgent need in the Church. No formal training was available now there are some Bible colleges and seminaries and some churches offer short term modular training courses, but there is still a huge shortfall.

PRAY FOR:

Sunday – Pray for good education in rural areas so that young people may have better opportunities.

Monday – Pray for those working to release and rehabilitate young people who are exploited and abused.

Tuesday -  Pray for churches to be established in remote communities

Wednesday -  Pray for feasible, effective methods of ministry training.

Thursday -  Pray for the provision of pastors amid gripping poverty.

Friday – Pray that leaders would learn to function as tentmakers and congregations would learn to support their pastors as much as possible.

Saturday – Pray for all those who are seeking to share the gospel in Nepal. Pray that the Lord would raise up more workers to reach not just Nepalese but also other ethnic groups living in Nepal.

To watch a video to help you as you pray for Nepal go to http://prayercast.com/nepal

North Korea

FROM 28-08-2011 TO 03-09-2011

North Korea is an oppressive and totalitarian nation with no tolerance of any kind of dissent or discussion of political and economic issues. Its 23.8 million people are strictly controlled in terms of freedom of movement, assembly and association. Kim Jong-il's communist dictatorship isolates the population from the wider world and indoctrinates North Koreans with its ideology through education and culture. Kim Il Sung, the deceased father of Kim Jong-il, has been exalted and revered as a god to be followed with obedience.

The constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in reality genuine religious activity is prohibited and Christians are considered a threat to the regime. The Bible is banned.
Famine, poverty and persecution drive North Koreans to flee to China, despite the risks of being caught and repatriated with severe punishment. Infant mortality and malnutrition rates are extremely high.

There are 50,000 to 70,000 Christians currently detained in prison camps; about 15% of North Korea's 400,000 believers. Christians face brutal persecution if their faith is discovered and may be beaten, arrested, tortured or killed.
Punishment is not limited to the offender, but to three generations of the offender's family, and exposes them to severe violations of human rights that occur throughout the North Korean criminal system, such as systematic use of torture, executions, use of humans for weapons research and testing. There are eight political prison camps which hold between half a million and a million people. Political prisoners are kept under constant threat of execution. There are 30 other camps which contain hundreds of thousands of North Koreans who are forced to work every day.

Please pray for:

Sunday - Religious freedom for all North Koreans. Pray for believers as they gather secretly today to worship.

Monday -    The physical, psychological and spiritual health of refugees who are in China and fear repatriation.

Tuesday -    Those who shelter and care for refugees from North Korea (Matt 10:42)

Wednesday -     Those being detained and tortured in North Korea’s eight prison camps. Pray that the Lord will sustain them in the midst of great suffering.

Thursday - Positive change in the treatment of North Korean refugees who flee to China.

Friday -   Adherence by North Korea and China to international conventions and human rights obligations.

Saturday – Pray that despite all the effort of man the Kingdom of God will be built in North Korea and the Glory of the Lord will be seen. Pray for all efforts to witness into that country.

To watch a video to help you pray for North Korea, go to

http://www.omf.org/omf/uk/resources/free_online_videos/north_korea_prayer_video

Haiti

FROM 21-08-2011 TO 27-08-2011

Haiti

Haiti shares the Island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.  It is the poorest state in the Western Hemisphere, aggravated by overpopulation, deforestation, soil erosion, pollution and hurricanes.  The 2010 earthquake devastated much of what little economic infrastructure did exist.  It will take billions of dollars, many years of stability with sustained redevelopment to see any economic progress.

To watch a video which will help you pray for Haiti go to http://prayercast.com/Haiti

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Cuba

FROM 14-08-2011 TO 20-08-2011

Cuba

Cuba remains  one of the last nations following Communism.  Fidel Castro passed along power to his brother Raul Castro in 2008, but subsequent economic reform has not been accompanied by civil or political change. Strict control of all church activities and repression of religious freedom existed in earlier years of Communist rule, but since 1990 the degree of pressure has lessened.

For more information on Cuba visit www.operationworld.org

Bible Translation in the Americas

FROM 07-08-2011 TO 13-08-2011

Some facts about the Americas:

• stretches more than 16,000 kilometers from north to south, covering 11 time zones
• has more than 984 languages and many diverse cultures and ethnic groups
• more than 925 million people live in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean
• 51 million of these are indigenous peoples who have kept their mother tongues

Bible translation is closer to completion here than in any other region in the world. About 300 language projects are completed. Work is now progressing in over 300 languages, mostly in Mexico, Brazil and Peru. About 149 others have been assessed and are waiting for translation to begin. Around 55 other languages, with the largest concentrations in Brazil and other countries of South America, still need to be surveyed to determine the translation need. Here are some specific situations for which you can pray and praise God for work underway or yet to be done:

• Sunday - Jesus film revision: Perú. Pray for the revision of the JESUS Film in Panao Quechua.  Pray for the Panao people, that they will continue to read from their New Testaments, and that God´s Spirit will give them light as they read. May God´s Word be clearly understood, and may it make an impact on their lives.

• Monday - Achí New Testament widely received: Guatemala. As a result of the radio broadcasts in the Achí language, Benedicto, the broadcaster, was invited to preach in two churches from two different denominations that had never before shown interest in Achí Scriptures. He sold two boxes of Achí New Testaments in these churches! Benedicto is now talking with the pastors about possible Achí reading courses for their congregations. Achí radio programs are also generating favorable comments and some New Testament and booklet sales. Students continue to come for Achí materials, and two nurses came from the town clinic to buy New Testaments. Praise God. Pray that His Word will continue to take root in the people's hearts and minds.

• Tuesday - Influence of God's Word: Americas. In one people group, there is a translator who is not a believer in Jesus Christ. He is accomplished at both Bible translation and dubbing movies that portray the Bible's content. After an afternoon of recording the Genesis movie, he said, "Recording these words in our language is expressing something to my people that is amazing, miraculous, wondrous." He also said that when hard times come, even though people continue to follow their traditional religion, they look 'up there' for help. Pray that many in this group will turn to God to receive His grace and mercy.

An exciting development is the emergence of a strong partnership among mission organizations. An area once seen primarily as a mission field is now also a mission force. "Along with Africa, it [the Americas] represents one of the two largest powers for cross-cultural evangelism worldwide," writes David Ruiz, president of COMIBAM Internacional.

Please pray:

• Wednesday - Courses in Perspectives on the World Christian Missions Movement: El Salvador. Two courses in Perspectives are planned for the Saturdays from June 4 to August 30, in San Salvador and Sonsonate. Pray that God will provide finances, encouragement and a desire to learn for each of the students, and that the instructors and assistants will be positive examples. Pray that the students who take the course will become instruments of mission mobilization in their local churches, and potential candidates for missionary service.

• Thursday - Promotion of Bible translation: Honduras. The Bible translation movement in Honduras is called Puerta al Mundo (Door to the World). The people involved in this organization are praising God because of all the ways He has helped them to this point. They are asking God to provide more people who will be willing to work in promotion, and that the doors of the churches will open so they can do presentations and other activities to promote this ministry.

• Friday - Missionaries-in-Training: Venezuela. Nine people from Venezuela have gone to Lima, Peru to study in CILTA*. Others are preparing to go to CILTA in the future. The third Basic Course of Linguistics and Anthropology will take place in Venezuela in July and August. Pray for many people to take this course as their first step in preparation for Bible translation ministries.

*CILTA - International Course of Linguistics, Translation, and Literacy

• Saturday - Latin-American missionary in a new project: South Asia. Give thanks to God because one of the first missionaries who went out under the Wycliffe Americas project, Rumbo a las Naciones,* has now completed two years in South Asia. She has reached the intermediate-advanced level in her study of the language and is able to understand and participate confidently in conversations with mother-tongue speakers. She has now received her assignment: She will work with women of an ethnic group in the country where she has been studying. Pray for her as she begins this work, and pray for the success of the project.

*Rumbo a las Naciones - Reaching the Nations is the language cluster project of Wycliffe Américas.

Dominican Republic

FROM 31-07-2011 TO 06-08-2011

The Dominican Republic is on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, shared with Haiti.  European colonial powers and Dominican governments have exploited the land and the people – this can be seen in the massive gap between a small wealthy elite and the poor majority.

Sunday - Pray for justice – economic and political – something missing from most of the Dominican Republic’s history.

Monday -  Pray for renewal  and awakening in the Catholic church which although it is the unofficial state church, has a dangerous blend of Christianity and Afro-Spiritism, influenced by Cuban santeria and Haitian voodoo.

Tuesday - Pray for religious liberty for Christians who are often faced with hostility. Pray for complete freedom in ministry and religious life.

Wednesday - Pray for retention of those converted to the Lord. There has been growth in many denominations, but only a small proportion of those who respond through evangelism become participating members of a local congregation.

Thursday - Pray for the development of biblical ethics for Christian involvement in a society where corruption, violent crime and promiscuity are alarmingly widespread.

Friday - Pray for cultivation of a missionary vision as there are increasing numbers of Dominican missionaries. The Assemblies of God in DR is becoming a missionary-sending force. A few ministries are trying to develop a Dominican mission movement. Pray for WEC International as they explore being involved in this.

Saturday -  Pray for the large Haitian underclass which proves to be a scapegoat and a challenge, but a responsive mission field.  Pray for the growing Haitian churches in DR. Pray for the Dominican Church to take up this challenge with faith and good grace, and develop Christ’s compassion for these next door neighbors.

For more information on the Dominican Republic go to www.operationworld.org

Liberia

FROM 24-07-2011 TO 30-07-2011

Liberia

A country of lush forests and many natural resources, Liberia recently went through sixteen years of a devastating civil war. In the last few years they have seen good progress in re-building . The church is revitalized and prospering in their faith.

Sunday – Ask the Lord to strengthen His children deeply. May the focus of their passion be Jesus! May they walk in unity, live holy lives and forgive – quick to obey the Spirit.

Monday – Pray that God will equip the President and other leaders as they seek His face to improve the infrastructure of the country. They need a safe water supply and electricity.

Tuesday – Christians have recently verbalized that they know they need to deeply forgive hurts and reach out to share the Gospel with those who have not heard. CAPRO, an African mission agency, is teaching believers and training them to see how God views the nations. Ask God to prosper this work across the land.

Wednesday – The church planted by WEC just finished building a Christian University in Ganta. Many displaced Liberians poured their heart and finances into this. They will soon finish two years of courses. Pray that the focus on Bible, business and education will keep being honoured and will help the Church to prosper in all their ways.

Thursday – Pray that God will raise up many workers to go to the still unreached.

Friday – Ask the Father to send out dedicated disciples to love their Muslim neighbours and serve them like Jesus.

Saturday – Pray that the Church leaders in Liberia will be strengthened continually in their inner person and their work as they daily humble themselves before the Lord and serve Him.

For further information go to www.operationworld.org

To learn more about the unreached peoples of Liberia got to www.joshuaproject.net

Bible Translation in Africa

FROM 17-07-2011 TO 23-07-2011

Focus: Francophone Africa

More French speakers live in Africa than on any other continent in the world. Even though French is a second language for most of the general population in Francophone (French-speaking) Africa, its designation as an official language in more than 20 countries makes it important to Bible translation.

It is here, in this Francophone region, where hundreds of minority language communities still do not have access to God’s Word in the language they understand best. In this area of incredible cultural and linguistic diversity, French serves Bible translation personnel as the key language through which training resources and workshops can be developed and presented.

You can help open access to Scripture through intercession:

• Sunday –Pray for more workers—more French-speaking people—to join in this ministry or bible translation. French speakers can immediately make an impact by helping to train and mentor the growing number of Africans involved in  Bible translation ministry

• Monday - Praise God for the success of the Translation Curriculum for Bible colleges. Pray for further adaptations of this Curriculum which will make it more accessible. Pray for those who will develop a second curriculum which will be based on some courses currently running in a seminary in Cameroon.

• Tuesday - Translators in training: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Praise God for key institutions that are training translators in Francophone Africa. Praise God that Shalom University in Bunia, DRC, has begun a second cycle of training. Pray for the seven students who are now in a two year program focusing on translation principles and the eight students beginning the three year program that gives the theological grounding essential to translation. These 15 students are from several different denominations and language groups.

• Wednesday - Translators need good commentaries. There are many translation aids in English, but not as many in French. An international team is producing a series of commentaries in French for translators in Francophone countries. These translators understand French, but may have had little formal education. Pray for clarity for the writing team and that their work will greatly help Francophone translators to understand Bible texts better and to express the meaning in their own languages.

• Thursday - Gangam New Testament: Togo and Benin. Three decades after work began among the Gangam people of Northern Togo and Benin, the Gangam New Testament is scheduled to be published and made available in 2011. A celebration is scheduled for November. Pray for the community and team members as they prepare for this event, and pray that God’s Word will have an astounding impact among the Gangam people.

• Friday - Central African Republic. A workshop to prepare the JESUS Film script and accompanying material in eight languages, Banda-Linda, Bhogoto, Mpyemo, Nzakara, Gbaya, Kaba, Ngbugu, and Yaka* took place April 28 to May 18, 2011. These eight teams had already translated the Gospel of Luke into their respective languages. The script for the JESUS Film comes from the Gospel of Luke. After this workshop, the JESUS Film will need to be dubbed into each of these languages and then distributed to the communities. Please pray for this entire process, involving things like teams' health, timely equipment availability, setting up of local committees and casting.

*together, these people groups total about 900,000 speakers

• Saturday - Listening to the Scriptures: Mali, West Africa. Pray for the Faith Comes By HearingMinyanka language. Many Audio Scripture listening groups are being started by individuals who want to reach out to their family and friends who do not yet know the Lord. Pray that many will be transformed by the Word of God. 738,000 people speak Minyanka. program in the

If you would like to know more about Bible Translation, go to www.wycliffe.net

If you would like to know more about any of the people groups mentioned here, go to

www.joshuaproject.net

Cote d Ivoire

FROM 10-07-2011 TO 16-07-2011

Cote d’Ivoire

After many years of prosperity with a developing economy, after independence in 1960, the country has recently gone through a damaging election time. Pray for the nation of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) which has suffered greatly since the election last November 2010. More than 3,000 are reported killed with thousands more injured and immeasurable damage inflicted on homes and infrastructure in the capital city of Abidjan.

Sunday – Pray that the believers will choose to give their bitterness to the Lord and forgive those who have hurt them.

Monday – Lift up the new President, that he will have wisdom and fear God in all his dealings, serving all equally.

Tuesday – There are several African agencies working to train and send out workers to serve in other nations. Pray that the Father’s passions will grip the hearts of many believers to pray, give and go out.

Wednesday – In the north, Christians are working together to share the Gospel and disciple those people from the Worodougou people. Around 100 have openly said that they believe. Pray for this work and for many more Worodougou to find the truth of the Gospel.

Thursday – The power of God has been displayed through healings, dreams and other supernatural events. Pray that this will happen more and more and that it strengthen believers and be a testimony to those who do not yet believe.

Friday – Pray for those who are studying linguistics in preparation for translating Scripture into the Worodougou language. This will be key in the development of the Church.

Saturday – Pray for the ministry of Christian radio in Cote D’Ivoire, for wisdom regarding the restoration of radio Fréquence Vie, an FM station in Abidjan which has been a lifeline for Christians through its programs of discipleship, music, evangelistic outreach, Bible teaching, and more. The station took on considerable damage during recent fighting, including the burning of its main transmitter and a large hole torn in its roof by shrapnel from a rocket.

For more information on Cote D’Ivoire see www.operationworld.org

To know how to pray especially for the Worodougou people, go to

http://www.30-days.net/muslims/muslims-in/africa-west/cote-d%E2%80%99ivoire-worodougou/

Algeria

FROM 03-07-2011 TO 09-07-2011

Natural Disasters

FROM 26-06-2011 TO 02-07-2011

The past few years have seen many “high-magnitude” natural disasters strike. One of the chief challenges is rapid growth in urban areas that is insufficiently prepared for disasters and thus more at risk.

• Sunday- The 2010 earthquake in Haiti killed 300,000 and left 1 million homeless. Recovery from this disaster is not yet complete and likely will take many years. Pray for the church to sustain its effort to bless the Haitians over the long haul.

• Monday - Tornadoes dominated the news, minds and hearts of those in the United States: over 1,200 tornadoes swept the United States in the early months of 2011, including the massive three-quarter-mile-wide Missouri tornado. Recovering from the deaths and cleaning up from the disaster will occupy many in the “Bible Belt” of the USA for years. Pray for those who (like Job) have lost loved ones, homes, and jobs in one devastating blow.

• Tuesday - In China, an extreme drought is lingering on around the middle and lower Yangtze River, in the provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu. 35 million people have been suffering water shortages, and 4 million are having difficulty in obtaining drinking water. Beijing is discharging water from the Three Gorges Dam and setting up relief funds. Pray for wisdom for leaders, and for discernment for believers to be a blessing in the midst of this national disaster.

• Wednesday - Japan will be dealing with the ramifications of the spring 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown for years. The full implications of this national disaster have yet to be known. One team helping people in Ishinomaki, had the opportunity to share the Gospel on the local radio station, after praying for the director of the station who had lost everything. Pray for believers ministering in the wake of the disaster, and for CRASH, a national coordinating body for the aid being delivered by Christians.

• Thursday - A series of floods in Australia killed 35 and forced the evacuations of thousands in at least 70 towns, causing about A$1 billion in damage. Pray for believers to reach out to those who are now trying to rebuild.

• Friday – New Zealand. Christchurch has been hit by three earthquakes in recent months, the one in February of this year the most serious which many killed. People were stunned, shocked, devastated by the loss of loved ones.   Please pray that people – even out of desperation – will call on the Lord for His help; in their grief, fear, frustration, despair and trauma ,that they will put their faith in Him.   Pray that God will demonstrate His love and power to heal, save and forgive those who come to Him.     Pray that this multiple disaster will somehow bring glory to God and salvation to many, many people.

• Saturday – In January 2011 floods and mudslides in Brazil killed almost 1000 people. The disaster caused widespread property damage and the supply of public utilities such as electricity, running water and phone lines was affected. Around 2960 people had their homes destroyed. It has been commented that the majority of deaths were in poverty-stricken areas, and that the impact in these areas could have been much lower if it had not been for the systematically poor conditions of Brazil's favelas. Pray for those grieving the loss of loved ones, and those left homeless. Pray for churches in the area as they reach out to those in need and that God would reveal himself to people. Pray that the Brazilian Government would be able to address the issues which have caused so many to be living in such poverty.

Conflicts around the World

FROM 19-06-2011 TO 25-06-2011

A number of current regional conflicts are having a direct impact on the missionary efforts of the church:

• Sunday - The northern and southern halves of Sudan recently concluded a referendum that would allow the South to split away. However, the status of the oil-rich area of Abyei—whether it would be with the north or the south—was never resolved. Both sides wanted it. Toward the end of May, the North sent tanks and soldiers in to claim it. Fighting erupted and has continued for days, and over 150,000 people have fled the area. Pray for a just settlement, peace, and for refugees to be able to return home.
• Monday - What amounts to a civil war continues in Libya. The rebels, backed by Europe and America, have managed to hang on against the government but have been unable to overthrow it. No end to the conflict is in sight, and the country is effectively split in at least two parts with thousands of refugees fleeing. Pray for believers caught in the midst of the conflict, and for peacemakers.
• Tuesday - Somalia continues to be lawless and ungoverned. Pirates operating off its shores have seized numerous ships and held them for millions of dollars in ransom. Trying to reach the Somalis within Somalia is difficult, dangerous and all but impossible at the moment (although much is done with Somalis outside the region). Pray for God’s best future for Somalia to be realized in this chaotic and confusing situation.
• Wednesday - When Yemen’s President refused to step down, violence erupted between the tribes and the government, and there are fears that it will bloom into a full civil war. Pray for righteousness to prevail.
• Thursday - Israel, Palestine, the US and the Arab World have been talking a lot about peace between Israel and Palestine—and whether it would even be possible. Still, most analysts estimate the prospects for war in that particularly sensitive part of the world are low right now. Pray for wisdom on the part of the leaders of these nations, for charitable relations, and for the peace of the cities involved.
• Friday - The assassination of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan was humiliating for that nation’s government, and as a result tensions between Pakistan and the West are higher than usual. The ability of Westerners to be in and around Pakistan will likely be reduced for some time. Pray for discernment and patience for believers in Pakistan who endure much persecution.
• Saturday - Drug-related violence on the Mexico-US border is now spreading south and there is a significant upsurge in murders and other violence in Guatemala. Short-term trips and long-term work in that nation are much reduced as a result. Pray for a revival in Mexico and Guatemala to transform these nations.

To watch a video which will help you to pray into situations of war go to
http://prayercast.com/uniquepcast/war

Focus on some of the major world events

FROM 11-06-2011 TO 18-06-2011

For these first few weeks of globalprayer365 we want to focus on some of the major world event which seem to be shaking our world, changing the trends in every region:

• Monday - In North Africa, a number of popular revolutions have led to the so-called “Arab Spring.” In a few cases these have resulted in greater democracy for the people, but in the biggest case, Egypt, they have not. A popular uprising in Libya has led to a protracted civil war with no immediate end in sight. Pray for peace and a just resolution to the unrest and uprisings.
  
• Tuesday - In Western Asia, Syria and Yemen have likewise had popular uprisings. Syria seems to be both ruthlessly and successfully crushing its opposition movement, while Yemen’s tribes look set to successfully overturn its autocratic government. Smaller revolts in the tiny nation of Bahrain seems to have been quashed by the local government, backed by Saudi forces. Pray for forgiveness and reconciliation for nations that have been torn apart through the process of conflict.

• Wednesday - A possible peace has come to Iraq, whose population looks set to grow until it becomes one of the largest in the region. Yet the ability of the government to govern, bringing stability and peace inside its borders and defending its borders from others, is very uncertain. The future of Iraq and the church within it is likely going to be very challenging for many years. Pray for wisdom and patience for churches under oppressive regimes, to know how to respond to persecution.

• Thursday - A new twist has come in the ongoing struggles of Israel and Palestine: the Palestinian organizations of Fatah and Hamas, once violently opposed to each other, have agreed to come together in a governing coalition. However, Hamas has consistently refused to recognize Israel and Israel insists it will have nothing to do with a government that includes Hamas. The prospects for anything remotely resembling peace in the near future seem dim. Pray for peace in the region so that the gospel can be proclaimed.

• Friday - In Western Africa, the second most populous nation of Ivory Coast (and one of Africa’s most economically successful nations, in the past) underwent a violent election process which nearly tore the nation apart with a civil war. The factions hurled accusations related to wealth, corruption, and religion. The war finally ended with the ousting of the old President and the inauguration of the new—but whether the new government can thoroughly and completely bring peace and reconciliation to the wounded nation is uncertain. Pray particularly for the Church in Ivory Coast as it seeks to reach out in a context of war and insecurity.

• Saturday - In Southern Asia, the government of Iran is vying for increased influence in the regions around it, while Pakistan is reacting with humiliation and anger to the assassination of Osama bin Laden and as a result moving further away from the West and closer to China. Through these political eddies we can expect likely increased restrictions and persecution on Christians wherever the influence of these two governments reach. Pray for the persecuted church in this region, for courage and strength as they rely on God.

• Sunday - In East Asia, China has launched a strong crackdown on all groups that appear to threaten its control—whether they are artists, lawyers, or Christians. The church, as a result, is under very strong pressure from the government. Some of this oppression is making its way into headline news, but much remains unseen. Pray for boldness for the church to proclaim the Good News and be a blessing to their neighbours in the midst of these trials.

For more information on any of these countries, go to

www.operationworld.org

Belgium

FROM 16-04-2011 TO 31-05-2011

Belgium is a deeply divided nation. For 2,000 years, its territory has straddled the cultural divide between the Latin/Romance and Germanic worlds. Walloon-Flemish rivalry and resentments colour the use of language, the economy, politics, religious life and worldviews of both communities. The growing immigrant population adds a third angle to this dynamic. An eventual breakup of Belgium is within the realm of possibility; and this defining issue has paralyzed political progress.

• Monday: Pray for the authorities: for the Monarchy, and for national and local government, that those serving in these roles will have the strength to lead with righteousness and integrity, and will remain open to God's Word and Spirit.
• Tuesday: Pray that the Church might be a profound example of unity to the wider society, and that real reconciliation and peace might be shaped in Belgium.
• Wednesday: While only at a modest 1.2% of the population, evangelical faith in Belgium has never been stronger. While growth is most prominent among Pentecostals, the more conservative churches in Flanders and Wallonia see an increase through determined church planting and relational witness. Pray for deep discipleship in Churches.
• Thursday: Pray for the growth of the Gospel in Belgium, for 345 new churches to be planted by 2015 (statistic from DAWN 2000)
• Friday: NATO and the European Union have their headquarters in Brussels. Pray for this strategic city, where decisions are made that influence across Europe and around the world.
• Saturday: Pray for refugees and asylum seekers: that they will find love and welcome among Belgian people, and that the churches in the big cities will be equipped to serve and support them.

For more information on how to pray for Belgium visit

http://www.operationworld.org/

FROM 31-12-1969 TO 31-12-1969