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INTERNET PRAYER REQUESTS
June 30, 2009
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Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for
another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.-James 5:16
Today,
pray that God will illuminate us with His love, and frame us in His word. Pray we will compose our lives so that it
presents a pleasing picture to others, especially to Him.
Open
Doors Ministry, Gospel for Asia and I have prayer requests, and I have a international
missions report that I have forwarded below.
“In March we asked you to pray for the baptism of
four Fulbe families who had accepted Christ,” writes
the Kano Katsina Fulbe Team in Nigeria.
“Thanks so much for your prayers. A week before the baptism, religious tensions
in the area became heightened. Because of the danger to the believers, we only
met with the family leaders and just baptized one leader in a secret location.
The group still desires to be baptized, but the imminent danger to the
believers has made us proceed with caution. We praise God that we were able to
encourage the leaders and teach them more about baptism, and we pray that the one
leader who was baptized will be able to baptize others in the group. Pray for
the continued spiritual growth of these Fulbe, and
ask that this fellowship group will grow even more.” jkgombe@aol.com
“Have we told you how much we love our Serbian
Christian brothers and sisters in the house church?” write International
Service Corps workers Kristen and Josh Hepner in
southern Europe. “As we read through the Scriptures
together, we get a sense of how Paul felt for his fellow brothers and sisters.
Likewise, we are also feeling the pain that Paul must have felt as he left
those churches to go on to minister in other places. We think about the
believers in Philippi, those whom Paul led to the Lord
and those who joined them. He loved them so much! And he prayed for them to
continue, even in his absence. As we prepare to go back to the United
States for our stateside assignment, we are
praying desperately for our brothers and sisters here to continue to grow in
their faith, to continue to meet, and to continue to share! Please continue to
pray for these Serb believers to press on!” (See Philippians 2:12-13 and 3:14.) http://www.pray4serbs.org
In Cambodia,
believing in Jesus is still seen as a foreign religion, something for
outsiders. Those who follow God are often ridiculed and persecuted by friends,
family and neighbors. A national pastor died a few years ago, and his family is
still being scolded for not offering food and clothes to his “ghost.” Another
young believer is frequently beat up and bullied on his way to school. Pray for
them. Intercede on behalf of your suffering brothers and sisters. Ask God to
give them strength, grace and boldness. In addition, those who believe work
twice as hard to teach and train others, often neglecting their own health and
wellbeing. Remember these faithful leaders, and ask the Lord of the harvest to
send more laborers to serve alongside them.
On August 31, 1774,
the Massachusetts Provincial Congress explained their disagreement with England
in this way. "Resistance to tyranny
becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. Continue steadfast, and with a proper sense
of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no
man ought to take from us."
I Thessalonians 2:19-20
For what
is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of
our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For
ye are our glory and joy.
MARANATHA!
++++++++++++OPEN
DOORS MINISTRY PRAYER REQUESTS++++++++++++
As witnessed this week
during the protests over the election, the government was unable to suppress
news filtering out of Iran via satellites. This has also been a powerful tool for
the Christian media as they broadcast the message of Jesus into Iran.
The fact that Iranian
Muslims are hearing about the Gospel is proof that God is opening doors for His
Word. Earlier this year, a burglar in Tehran had a life-altering experience after he broke into an
apartment and stole a satellite dish. Back at home he scanned through the TV
programs and stumbled upon a sermon preached in Farsi. The sermon said that we
all are sinners and have to follow the Lord Jesus. This man converted and
told his friends about it. Today, they form a house church of 12 former
criminals.
Most Christians
converts remain cautious. They rely on Christian radio and TV programs,
the Internet and books in Farsi to grow spiritually. Many are reluctant
to meet with other Christians out of fear of retaliation from family, friends
and the government. But those who take risks and share the Gospel are
often able to convert them.
One Iranian who had immigrated to Scandinavia tells this story. Feeling isolated he began
attending church and soon became a Christian. Later, when he visited his
family in Iran, he shared his new-found faith with them. Within a
month's time, 50 members of his extended family converted. By the time he
visited them again one year later; this house church had grown to as many as
250 members.
Heavenly Father we
pray for the saints who have taken the cause of freedom into the streets of Iran. We ask that they have comfort in knowing that
their brothers and sisters worldwide are praying for You to protect them and
guide them. We stand united asking that freedom of religion will prevail
in Iran and for Your truth to reign.
OBAMA UPHOLDS RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM IN MUSLIM SPEECH:
President Barack Obama
called on the Muslim world to respect people’s right to choose their religion
in his Cairo address on Thursday. The president, while careful to
show respect to Islam, said the religion had a tradition of tolerance that he
witnessed firsthand growing up in Indonesia—the world’s most populous Muslim
country. Full Story>>
INDIA - USCIRF REGRETS ABSENCE OF VISAS FOR
VISIT TO INDIA: The U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) regrets that visas have not been issued by the Indian
government for a USCIRF visit to discuss religious freedom conditions with
officials, religious leaders, civil society activists and others in the world’s
largest democracy. Full Story>>
IRANIAN CHRISTIANS REFUSE TO ACCEPT ELECTION
RESULTS: In Tehran
many Iranians have rejected the results of the presidential elections.
News reports show protesters streaming through the streets of Iran’s capital. There are also reports that Ayatollah Khamenei has directed the Guardian Council to examine
claims of election fraud after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the runaway winner. Full Story>>
FAMILIES HOLD OUT HOPE FOR JOURNALISTS DETAINED
IN NORTH KOREA: The families of the two American journalists
sentenced to hard labor in a North Korean prison camp say they are hoping Laura
Ling and Euna Lee will be home in time to celebrate
some important family milestones this summer. Full Story & Televised
Interview>>
SHI WEIHAN CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Open
Doors launched a campaign for Christian bookstore owner, Shi Weihan during the summer of 2008 and a follow-up campaign
in early March. Our supporters sent about 2,700 emails and faxes to Chinese
Ambassador Zhou Whenzong, requesting that the Chinese
authorities give Shi a fair trial and that he be released. On June 10th 2009, Shi was found guilty of “illegal business operation”
by a Beijing court and sentenced to three years in prison and a
150,000 yuan ($21,975 USD) fine. Full Story>>
Praying with you,
The Prayer Force Team
++++++++++++GOSPEL
FOR ASIA PRAYER REQUESTS++++++++++++
Traveling
on foot across rocky terrain and mountainous landscape can be tedious and
painful, especially if you've been walking for hours on end. For some of our
missionaries, this is a reality that they endure to bring the life-saving
message of Jesus Christ to those who have yet to hear.
But now, some missionaries travel from village to village on brand new
motorbikes, allowing them to reach even more people for the Lord! Watch
how Pastor Taran, a Gospel for Asia-supported
missionary, uses his motorbike to reach the lost:
http://links.mkt561.com/ctt?kn=12&m=1754866&r=NTE2NDY4Mzc0OQS2&b=2&j=MTU0MDY5MDA5S0&mt=1&rt=0
Thank you for helping these missionaries share the love of Christ with His lost
children in Asia.
Yours for the unreached,
K.P. Yohannan
Founder & President
Gospel for Asia
1800 Golden Trail
Ct.
Carrollton TX 75010
Phone: 800-WIN-ASIA
Email: info@gfa.org
++++++++++++ZANDER
RAINES PRAYER REQUESTS++++++++++++
My
wife Carol has been told by her doctor that she will have to have a total knee
replacement on August 7. Please keep her
in your prayers.
++++++++++++INTERNATIONAL
MISSIONS REPORT++++++++++++
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings,
and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honesty. For this
is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.-I Timothy
2:1-4
WORLD LEADERS. Please pray today for Premier
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
of Russia
(northern Asia).
CANADA.
Mike of Team Toronto has found some immigrant men of a major world religion who
are willing to listen to the teachings of Jesus, and among them is P. Praise
our merciful and compassionate heavenly Father, who has given P to Jesus!
“Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me . . .” (John 6:37, HCSB). It happened this way: Mike had been discipling an Egyptian university student, M, for about a
year. One evening P asked M to go out with him, but M declined, saying that he
had an appointment to tell someone about the teachings of Jesus. P then
protested, “Why haven’t you told me about Jesus’ teachings?” M was surprised,
and agreed to meet with P soon. When they met, P heard and believed. What a
blessing to see disciples making more disciples of Jesus! Now P has a desire to
teach his Buddhist grandmother about Jesus by reading to her from a Korean
Bible. Pray that our Father will give her to Jesus too! Please also pray that
the other men with whom Mike is sharing, R, H, S and A, will trust Jesus as the
one Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5-6), and thus be born again as
sons of God.
METROPOLITAN CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (SEE-oo-dahd HWAH-rez). Publicity
regarding drug wars, violence and the influenza outbreak in Mexico
has caused most volunteer teams to cancel mission trips to Juarez.
Pray that God will call out those whom He wants to use to make a tremendous impact
on areas of Juarez waiting to hear the good news of
Jesus Christ. http://www.churcheswithoutborders.com
AMERICAN PEOPLES AFFINITY STRATEGIC MOBILIZATION.
The Regional Field Mobilization Team writes: “Please continue in prayer during
this time of transition for Perry and Brenda Walker, new Cluster Strategy
Leader for Mobilization and Partners for the American peoples
affinity group; Phil and Donya Kesler,
Associate Cluster Strategy Leader for Mobilization--Red Team; and Ron and
Margie Carothers, Associate Cluster Strategy Leader
for Mobilization--Blue Team. Keep praying for great wisdom, creativity and
energy as they as they develop strategic plans, budgeting, work procedures,
advanced communications methods, leadership strategies, and relationships with
Baptist partners and Great Commission Christians that will pave the way for an
increase in the sending of national Baptist partner missionaries from all the
countries of the American peoples affinity group--from Mexico to Uruguay to
Spain and Portugal--to the unreached people groups
and harvest fields of the world. http://aamobilization.org
ITALIANS OF ROME, ITALY (i-TAL-yins).
Through extraordinary circumstances, God has opened a door that allows for the
Rome Team to offer a summer English camp through a local public school. This
has never happened before for any IMB personnel in Rome.
God is working in this dark city, shedding light in areas believed to be
closed. Praise God that He has so much in store for the city of Rome!
There is great support by a sympathetic school principal, and trust is being
granted to the team. Pray that God will expand this service to the community
from a secular to a spiritual ministry. Pray that He will make this camp into
an event of comfort and safety, building more credibility for the team in the
community. Pray for the parents of the children involved to be stirred by the
Holy Spirit to ask questions about Christ and His gift of salvation.
SUNNI ARABS OF THE LEVANT (SOO-nee, luh-VAHNT). “According to some appearing on news programs
and in politics, relations between the government here and the West seem to be
opening up a bit. This might allow more Western workers to return or to come
here for the first time! We’ve been waiting for this to happen for some time
now. Give thanks for this new development.” http://www.experiencename.com
FULAKUNDA OF SENEGAL, GUINEA-BISSAU AND THE GAMBIA
(FOO-lah-KOON-dah). “I believe the road to Jesus is
the only way to have eternal life. Jesus died for my sins, and I am telling my
friends and neighbors about the salvation that they, too, can have. We have a
small group of believers, and I want to have a church. We have tried to meet
together, but it has not worked out. I want to study God’s Word with other Fulakunda believers; I want to worship and sing praises to
God and have fellowship with my Fulakunda brothers
and sisters. We were supposed to meet on Wednesday, but only two people showed
up. My heart longs to have fellowship. When will we be able to work this out
and meet together? When will my Fulakunda brothers
and sisters have regular meeting times?” Please pray for these believers who
want to grow in God’s Word and have fellowship. Pray that they will stay
committed to meeting together to share the Word and share in worship. Pray that
they will not wait for the missionary to get them together, but that they will
meet on their own, grow strong and encourage each other.
ZERMA OF NIGER (ZAR-mah).
J moved from K-town to study in Senegal
last fall. Her family had always been closed to the gospel until J’s younger
sister passed away and International Service Corps workers Brandy Nelson and Kanesa Snow were able to be a ministry of presence for
their family. Last month when Brandy passed through Senegal,
she was asked, “When are you going to become a Muslim?” Brandy was then able to
share the gospel with J as well as answer several questions she had. J then
asked Brandy to pray for God to bring her a husband. After the prayer, J
laughed and said, “You are trying to change me.” Brandy responded, “I don’t
want to change you. I want God to change you.” The visit was very powerful.
Give thanks to God for amazing opportunities to share His love with the Zerma even outside of Niger!
http://www.zermateam.org
PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH
AFRICA. The Port Elizabeth Metropolitan Team
writes: “In February, you prayed for a mission trip of six women from Virginia.
We gave you an update in April to let you know of God’s faithfulness to your
prayer requests for safety and guidance. An additional prayer request was made
at that time for the maturing of seeds that were planted for the kingdom during
that ‘Quilters for Jesus’ mission trip, as the Lord honored your prayers once
again by opening doors at the end of March for a new women’s Bible study that
meets weekly. In attendance are 15-18 women from the township. Pray that our
God will be made known to all in the Barcelona Extension #5 township as we
continue to pray, study His living Word, and develop a deeper relationship with
Him. Thank you for your faithfulness in praying as you assist in sharing in the
Great Commission in this way. ‘The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and
effective’ (James 5:16b NIV).”
UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF CENTRAL, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA.
In the urban as well as rural areas in the southeast section of South
Africa, Lesotho
and Swaziland
are many young girls living in fear. They do not feel protected in their homes
from boys who do not consider the consequences of their actions. Many girls
will become pregnant, will leave school and will very possibly become
HIV-positive. These are the innocent victims of sexual abuse and rape. These
are the innocent victims of AIDS. Pray for protection for girls living in
situations that are not safe and that lead to sexual abuse and possibly death.
Pray that governments will take more notice of the plight of women and children
and will seek to pass laws that will protect them. Pray for a safer place to
live for children that will allow them to become adults with a future.
BING FENG CITY, CHINA
(BEENG fohng). There are several new believers who
need to be baptized. Pray that they will be willing to take this step of
obedience soon.
CHINA.
Pray for God’s strong hand of protection to be on all who serve Him in China.
One mother wrote: “The evil one is attacking in new ways and (the attacks) are
felt in every family represented by the team. Pray that we will be able to
continue to put on the full armor of God, hope in Him, and stand strong in
faith.”
JZ CITY, CHINA.
After receiving a copy of the story of Jesus, H was so excited to find out that
she could understand it. “It is written in my own language!” she said with
excitement. Later, after reading the story, H said that she wanted to learn
more. But H and her husband both drive a taxi, working long hours, sometimes
seven days a week. When will they ever have time to study or meet with
believers to learn more about God’s greatest gift? Pray that God will make a
way for H and other hardworking families to study and hear about God’s plan for
their lives.
SHAN OF THE PACIFIC RIM. A believer went to visit a
friend, J, for a few days. J invited four other young Shan men to meet with
them. The believer shared true stories from the beginning until the Son came.
These young men were interested and seemed to understand. At the end of their
time together, the believer said that the Father was inviting them to believe
and follow Him. None did. Later when the believer met with J, he asked, “Do you
believe?” J responded, “Yes, I believe the stories are true.” The believer then
asked if J wanted to follow. He replied, “No, I cannot follow because of my
parents.” This is a common barrier among the Shan people. The community is more
important than the individual, so anything that goes against the community is
discouraged. Many individuals believe that the Son is the Way, but choose not
to follow because they will not go against their family. Please pray that the
Father will continue watering the seeds that were planted in these young men,
bringing a harvest soon. Also pray that the Shan people will realize that the
best way to honor their parents is to follow the Son. “If anyone comes to Me,
and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers
and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke
14:26). Pray that the Shan will see that following the Son is the most
important thing, and that they will desire to be His disciple.
JAT SIKHS OF INDIA (jut SEEKS). Pastor N spent
almost 15 months building relationships with families in a village in Punjab.
He shared the gospel with these families. In early March, five families of Jat Sikhs met together for the first time to worship. They
are excited about their new-found faith in Jesus, and seem very interested in
learning more about how they can share Jesus with others. Please pray that
these new believers will accept training to train others and will grow strong
in their faith, with a desire to plant a church in their village. http://www.go2southasia.org
UNENGAGED PEOPLES OF SOUTH ASIA.
Pray especially this month for the unengaged people living in the megacities of South Asia. A megacity may be defined as any metropolitan area with a
population of more than 10 million people (with 2,000 people living per square
kilometer). Pray for those who live in this vast sea of humanity that goes
“untouched” everyday. Pray especially for those living in Dhaka,
Karachi, Kolkata,
Mumbai and Delhi. Pray that God’s
servants will answer the call to minister to the masses. http://www.go2southasia.org
LAST FRONTIER. Each day, the Lord brings unexpected
opportunities into the lives of cross-cultural workers. Workers have been
asking Him to help them meet people who have a burden for a Last Frontier
people group in a neighboring country. At times the workers despaired, thinking
they would never meet anybody who could help them share the Story in that dark,
restricted place. But recently they met a woman who has a burden to take the
Story to those people. She has family and friends in that country, and
circumstances allow her to visit them often. As a believer, she not only
desires to share items to meet their daily needs, but also the Bread of Life.
Pray for the workers and this woman as they meet together and learn stories
from the Bible to share with others. Ask that her travel papers will be
provided at the right time and that her travels will go well. Ask that her
family will listen to the Story she shares and reject their fear and unbelief
so they can believe. The workers believe there are others who have this desire
to go and share. Lift up these cross-cultural workers, asking that they will
not grow weary and despair while they wait on the Lord to introduce them to
more people like this woman.
MUSLIMS: PRAYING BEYOND THE WALL. Balkan Turks
number more than 1.5 million. As an ethnic minority, these Turkish peoples have
experienced religious and cultural oppression off and on for more than 100
years. Ask the Lord to burden believers in the Balkans to reach out in love and
kindness to their Turkic neighbors. Give thanks for more than 100 known
believers in Bulgaria.
Pray for these believers to grow in their faith and to joyously spread the good
news that a Savior has come! Pray for the believers to be gathered into
communities of faith. Ask God to raise up leaders with a passion for evangelism
and the planting of new churches among Turkic communities throughout the
Balkans.
www.imb.org
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