Reflection on the Significance of the World Prayer Assembly
‘The WPA is a once in a generation moment for the parts of the body of Christ to come together from around the world, to stand together in humility, to worship Him, to seek His face, to hear His voice and to receive the grain, the wine and the oil to take to the ends of the earth. The more I pray and ponder regarding the assembly, the more I see this as a unique
moment in church history. This is not about promotion of ministries. It is not about well known speakers. It is not about networking. There are many other events at which these things can rightly take place. This is a moment in history when representatives of the Body of Christ from around the world to stand in unity, listening, ready to hear the word of the Lord.’ - Ian Cole, Director of the World Prayer Centre, Birmingham.
Pray: for all those gathering in Jakarta, Indonesia on the 14 May to hear from the Lord and be blessed so as to be a blessing. (Ps.86:5)
Ukraine: EU leaders shun Ukraine over Tymoshenko case
European leaders have mounted renewed diplomatic pressure on Ukraine over its treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko, the jailed former prime minister. Jose Manuel Barroso, the EU Commission president, said on Tuesday that he would not go to Ukraine during the European football championships in June unless there is a swift improvement in the human rights situation there. ‘It is clear that as things stand now, the president has no intention of going to Ukraine,’ Barroso's spokeswoman said. His announcement followed that of EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, who is also skipping the opening ceremony of the Euro 2012 football tournament, to be hosted by Ukraine and Poland, on June 8. A German government spokesman also said any visit by Chancellor Angela Merkel during the championship, one of the continent's main sports events, would be linked to Tymoshenko's fate. Tymoshenko has been on a hunger strike since last week to protest against her alleged beating in prison.
Pray: that the Ukrainian authorities would have a change of heart and seek the truth and resolve the situation. (Dt.10:20)
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/05/2012517319725587.html
Ukraine: EU leaders shun Ukraine over Tymoshenko case
European leaders have mounted renewed diplomatic pressure on Ukraine over its treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko, the jailed former prime minister. Jose Manuel Barroso, the EU Commission president, said on Tuesday that he would not go to Ukraine during the European football championships in June unless there is a swift improvement in the human rights situation there. ‘It is clear that as things stand now, the president has no intention of going to Ukraine,’ Barroso's spokeswoman said. His announcement followed that of EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, who is also skipping the opening ceremony of the Euro 2012 football tournament, to be hosted by Ukraine and Poland, on June 8. A German government spokesman also said any visit by Chancellor Angela Merkel during the championship, one of the continent's main sports events, would be linked to Tymoshenko's fate. Tymoshenko has been on a hunger strike since last week to protest against her alleged beating in prison.
Pray: that the Ukrainian authorities would have a change of heart and seek the truth and resolve the situation. (Dt.10:20)
More: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/05/2012517319725587.html
Report points to decline in belief
A new report from the University of Chicago has shed light on the growth of atheism in Europe. The report from the university’s National Opinion Research Center (NORC) also found that belief in God is stronger among older people than younger generations. The findings were based on an analysis of surveys conducted in 30 countries in 1991, 1998 and 2008. Countries with the largest atheist populations tended to be in north-west Europe or former communist states while countries with fewer atheists tended to be in the developing world, with the exception of the US, Israel and Cyprus. Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, Britain and Norway had some of the highest proportions of atheists. The study found that belief in God had decreased in most countries although it added that the declines were ‘quite modest especially when calculated on a per annum basis’.
Pray: that the fire of the Holy Spirit would fall across Europe bringing new life to God’s church. (Ez.9:9b)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/report.points.to.decline.in.belief/29724.htm
Report points to decline in belief
A new report from the University of Chicago has shed light on the growth of atheism in Europe. The report from the university’s National Opinion Research Center (NORC) also found that belief in God is stronger among older people than younger generations. The findings were based on an analysis of surveys conducted in 30 countries in 1991, 1998 and 2008. Countries with the largest atheist populations tended to be in north-west Europe or former communist states while countries with fewer atheists tended to be in the developing world, with the exception of the US, Israel and Cyprus. Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, Britain and Norway had some of the highest proportions of atheists. The study found that belief in God had decreased in most countries although it added that the declines were ‘quite modest especially when calculated on a per annum basis’.
Pray: that the fire of the Holy Spirit would fall across Europe bringing new life to God’s church. (Ez.9:9b)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/report.points.to.decline.in.belief/29724.htm
Please keep praying for the WPA! Your prayer support will be all-important to this event which is intended to be a "new paradigm" for an international congress-carried out Acts 13-style-incorporating listening to God, united prayer, and strategic implementation of world-impacting action that proceeds out of that encounter with the Lord and one another.
WPA Prayer Concerns
We are now less than two weeks from the World Prayer Assembly. Your prayers have been a sustaining and encouraging force for us. We know that without your support in this way, we could be dead meat in the spiritual battle that rages against us and this "once in a generation" gathering of praying people from around the world.
Here are some causes for thanksgiving to God and continuing key issues in prayer we hope you can focus on with us now and during the WPA:
1. God has answered your prayers for people to hear His voice and come to the WPA. There are now about 6000 registered to take part! Much of this wave of registrations has flowed in to our Jakarta office in the last month.
2. The Lord has been providing funding as it is needed. There is still about $400,000 needed to help hundreds of children, youth and adults with subsidies for their accommodations and ground transport and in some cases with partial travel help. Please pray that donors will respond now and provide the rest that is needed. A colleague is asking for 100 people to each give $4000. If the Lord moves your heart to help, please let us know.
3. Pray for the many speakers, facilitators and worship teams that they will be anointed and prepared to play their part at the WPA. We want to follow a new/old paradigm of letting the Lord guide and speak as He did in Acts 13 to the five leaders at Antioch. Pray that we may have special wisdom and sensitivity to know how to do this effectively in both the plenary and track sessions.
4. The Indonesian national committee needs our continuing prayer as they seek to bring together the very challenging and detailed logistics- hotels and other accommodations, ground transport involving many buses and program details. It is a huge undertaking- please pray for them regularly.
5. The May 17 national stadium event will link the 100,000 participants live to 362 cities within Indonesia with an estimated audience of 5 million as well as many millions of others throughout the world through satellite TV and Internet streaming. Please pray for an anointed, powerful program that is being developed now, for excellent collaboration with Christian and secular media outlets, and that all the technical aspects will work flawlessly.
6. Pray for unity, love and humility among the Indonesian committee and our international coordination team. Pray for excellent security, both spiritual and physical, to surround the venues, hotels and ground transport. We all need His protection both physically and spiritually as we move into these last weeks and during the WPA as well. The evil one wants to hinder such a global prayer tsunami from happening, of course, and we must not underestimate his resolve to disrupt it.
7. Of course, finally, pray that the WPA will be mightily and wonderfully used of God to fulfill His purposes and to be a vehicle for world revival and breakthrough in mission.PrayEphesians 3:20 and Habakkuk 2:14 for it!
Thanks so much for standing with us for this "once in a generation" event.
Yours in Christ,
John Robb (on behalf of the WPA International Coordination Team)
Twelve years ago, Objectif France began mobilizing intercessors to pray for France to awaken, in order for it to enter into its destiny, to be able to testify with the power of God’s love. Our perseverance has not been in vain: in twelve years, the spiritual atmosphere in France has changed and a thirst for God has increased. The Christians are not inactive: we see houses of prayer and adoration opening with a perspective of 24/24; a generation is rising up in the country, full of passion for Jesus and a desire to serve Him. The Church is rediscovering the love for the Kingdom of God!
With intercessors from about 70 countries receiving our guide (translated into English), join us in our desire to blow in the fire of revival. Together, from April 7th to the 29th, we call France, “its admirable light” with a strong manifestation of His Kingdom and His Justice.
To get the prayer guide:
• In English, it can be downloaded for free from the website: www.ccfof.org
• In French, and we hope in Spanish, it can be ordered on: www.objectiffrance.fr
The week of April 9 – 15 has been designated by a number of prayer networks as week of prayer for Mauritania. We'd like to encourage all who have a heart for Mauritania and its people to organize prayer gatherings for Mauritania during that week. Prayer topics for each day of that week will be sent out by April 3. There will be 3 days of intensive prayer and fasting April 12 - 14.
Please pray for the Lord's help and grace in all the preparation for this dedicated time of prayer for Mauritania, and that He would raise up many intercessors around the world to pray for Mauritania and its people throughout 2012 and beyond.
In recent weeks, a number of individuals who pray regularly for Mauritania have sensed the Lord urging prayer for humility, confession, repentance and unity on three levels:
1. among all those who are committed to praying for it – That we would guard our hearts and be quick to confess any sin or seek forgiveness and work to restore broken relationships so that nothing would hinder our prayers. We sense the most important preparation for the week of prayer in April is our own humility, purity and right relationship with the Lord and one another
2. among believers in Mauritania – May the Lord pour out His grace and kindness in the lives of believers in Mauritania, leading them to recognize, confess and repent of any sin in their lives, including deeply entrenched sins that are "strongholds" in the culture - including love of money, pride, deception or manipulation, racism, occult practices, sexual sin. Pray for healing of divisions and unity among believers. Pray for God's "rain" in their lives, softening hard hearts and refreshing and renewing those who are weary and dry.
3. Prayer for conviction of sin, confession, and repentance within the country as a whole: In studying the ministry of John the Baptist, we are reminded that before Jesus began His ministry, there was a large movement of confession of sins and repentance throughout Judea and Jerusalem. John was called to "prepare the way" for Jesus to come, and calling people to confession was a key part of that preparation. Pray for God to pour out the Holy Spirit in Mauritania, convicting Mauritanians of their sin and helping them recognize that they are sick, in need of a savior to heal and restore and reconcile them to God.
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:1-8; Luke 7:27-30; Mark 2:16-17; Malachi 3:1-3; John 16:7-11
"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate." – Anonymous
Let’s TEACH our Children to pray! Let’s pray FOR the Children of this world!
"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited Me in, naked, and you clothed Me, I was sick, and you visited Me, I was in prison, and you came to Me...”Matthew 25:35-45
There are 2.3 billion children on earth under age 15 and they represent the largest unreached people group in the world. Boys and girls in the 4/14 Window is given priority because they are more open and receptive to the gospel than older youth and adults. Nearly 85% of people who make a decision for Christ, do so between the ages of 4 to 14!
For this reason you are invited to participate in the Global 4/14 Day – a day of prayer and fasting for children aged 4 to 14 – on Saturday, April 14, 2012.While adults are registering for the Global 4/14 Day, ARISE is inviting CHILDREN to gather for prayer in every time zone of the world at 4:14PM (local time zone) on 14 April 2012 to unite in praise and worship, stand in the gap for their generation and to commit themselves to be a generation set apart for God.
For more information please visit the website www.kidsarise.com or contact Gwen De Rozario at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Billions of children around the world are growing up without the basic needs they are entitled to. For example: Education, Safety, Advocacy and Health. To pray for them effectively please visit VIVA –together for children and diarize the date for the World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk 2 – 3 June 2012.
Sudan: Christians request our prayers
On 21st April the Anglican Church in Sawafi was attacked by a mob, provoked by a radical Imam. Security forces stopped the mob, then some found an alternate route and ransacked and burnt down the building. Also on 21st the Gereif West Bible School in Al-Gereif, was badly damaged in an arson attack by a Muslim mob. They had received threats of violence in late March and early April. Churches on the site as well as the Bible School were damaged in the attack.Office equipment, library resources and students' personal belongings were destroyed. On 19th April in Burri 130 South Sudanese university students were detained and given seven days to leave Sudan after being accused of celebrating South Sudan's invasion of the Heglig oil field. The students denied that they had held any such celebration. Sudanese Christians give thanks that nobody was injured in the recent attacks.
Pray: Christians in Khartoum will know the peace, presence and protection of Jesus, and His enabling to live without fear; and for detained students to be released and know the Spirit's guidance and wisdom.