
“Watchmen are ordinarily placed on the walls of a city to give notice to the rulers of coming danger. God appoints watchmen not only to warn men - often they will not hear - but also to summon Him to come to their aid whenever need or the enemy may be threatening. The great mark of the intercessors are that they are not to hold their peace day or night, to take no rest, and to give God no rest, until the deliverance comes. In faith they may count upon the assurance that God will answer their prayers.” Andrew Murray
Week of prayer for Morocco: March 5-11
Week of prayer for Mauritania: April 9-14
Some of the key emerging themes to pray into include: the national church - unity - signs & wonders, dreams & visions - opening of doors - barriers & resistance to the Good News - rising up of prayer within and for the nation - fasting for the nation - freedom - salvation & revival - workers for the harvest.
ALGERIA
An Algerian believer explains, "I went to visit a lady who said she had become a follower of Christ. She lived in a small town. She was illiterate. She had a vision of Jesus and had decided to put her trust in Him. She had a Bible but could not read it. She asked for help to read it, but no one would help. So she cried out to God in her desperation, and Jesus appeared in her room, sat with her, and began to teach her to read the Bible. She showed me that she can read it. Her family are amazed!"
• Praise God for the revival that continues in Algeria, specially among the Berbers.
• Pray that believers will be committed to fellowshipping together.
• Thank God for the churches who have permission to operate openly, and ask God to protect that permission.
• Pray for an increase in home fellowship groups too.
• Pray for good discipling of believers.
• Pray that Algerians will receive a burden for evangelism in their own nation and in neighboring North African nations.
• Pray that there will be a softening of the hearts of Algerian Arabs towards the Good News.
The response has been astronomical. Women can't get enough of hearing how Christ loves them. Mission Network News reports that an urgent desire for God's Word in Ethiopia is causing the Gospel to spread like wildfire. And, it's being fuelled primarily by women whose lives have been changed after watching the JESUS Film movie ‘Magdalena Released From Shame.’ Noting that women have long been ‘undervalued’ in the country, the Ethiopia ministry director for JESUS Film Project, Damtew, says, ‘Women are being healed at showings as they watch: it's just so amazing.’ According to the report, progress is staggering, with demand for the film now so high that in only six months the team has trained 564 women..
Praise: God for the way the Spirit is using the Magdalena film to reach the women of Ethiopia. (Ps.97:12)
More: http://mnnonline.org/article/16882
The response has been astronomical. Women can't get enough of hearing how Christ loves them. Mission Network News reports that an urgent desire for God's Word in Ethiopia is causing the Gospel to spread like wildfire. And, it's being fuelled primarily by women whose lives have been changed after watching the JESUS Film movie ‘Magdalena Released From Shame.’ Noting that women have long been ‘undervalued’ in the country, the Ethiopia ministry director for JESUS Film Project, Damtew, says, ‘Women are being healed at showings as they watch: it's just so amazing.’ According to the report, progress is staggering, with demand for the film now so high that in only six months the team has trained 564 women..
Praise: God for the way the Spirit is using the Magdalena film to reach the women of Ethiopia. (Ps.97:12)
More: http://mnnonline.org/article/16882
Ahmed hated Christians. He attacked them and burned their Bibles. Then he was saved through direct encounters with God and came out of Islam to become a mighty Gospel missionary in Ethiopia. He says, ‘When I was sleeping a Voice came from Heaven and said, 'Mohammad, you are living in darkness. Come out of that cave and follow Me.’ Somehow Ahmed knew it was the voice of the Christian God but when he confided his dream to his mother she kicked him out of the family home, so he dismissed God's attention. Then he became ill, ‘I couldn't eat, walk or talk, I went to hospitals but was not healed.’ In desperation he humbly asked for help from Christian missionaries who talked about Jesus’ message of salvation by grace through faith, and then they prayed together. Now Ahmed says, ‘Jesus is my peace, my healing, my ministry, and my Saviour.’
Praise: God for Ahemed’s story and may millions more living in total darkness hear His still small voice. (Is.30:20-22)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=9896
Ahmed hated Christians. He attacked them and burned their Bibles. Then he was saved through direct encounters with God and came out of Islam to become a mighty Gospel missionary in Ethiopia. He says, ‘When I was sleeping a Voice came from Heaven and said, 'Mohammad, you are living in darkness. Come out of that cave and follow Me.’ Somehow Ahmed knew it was the voice of the Christian God but when he confided his dream to his mother she kicked him out of the family home, so he dismissed God's attention. Then he became ill, ‘I couldn't eat, walk or talk, I went to hospitals but was not healed.’ In desperation he humbly asked for help from Christian missionaries who talked about Jesus’ message of salvation by grace through faith, and then they prayed together. Now Ahmed says, ‘Jesus is my peace, my healing, my ministry, and my Saviour.’
Praise: God for Ahemed’s story and may millions more living in total darkness hear His still small voice. (Is.30:20-22)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=9896
Tribal leaders and a political faction declared autonomy for an eastern region of Lybia, but Abdel Jalil said, ‘We are not prepared to divide Libya,’ and called on leaders in the eastern Cyrenaica region to engage in dialogue saying infiltrators and remnants of Gaddafi's regime wanted to exploit them. He said he was ready to deter opposition with force. ‘The national charter contains provisions that protect this nation and it is like a constitution for Libya's future.’ Some tribal and political leaders in the oil-rich east are trying to carve out a semi-autonomous territory and have called for a federal system of governance. From 1951 to 1963 the country was split into three states-Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan. Advocates of a return to federalism believe it prevents the east from being marginalised as was the case for decades, while opponents fear the initiative will split the country and stand in the way of reconciliation.
Pray: for God to help the leaders to faithfully represent Libya’s interests in this sensitive period. (Ps.33:10,11)
Open Doors USA is working with candidates from both parties seeking the position of President of the United States to craft a religious freedom pledge. The pledge has now been presented to all of the presidential candidates to sign. A candidate’s signature indicates they commit to upholding religious freedom for people of all faiths in America, and prioritizing religious freedom concerns in foreign policy. So far, Rick Santorum is the only presidential candidate who has signed it. Meanwhile, a coalition of Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders are asking candidates not to lose sight of Middle East peace. Their statement reads, ‘While majorities of Israelis and Palestinians continue to long for peace, political problems on both sides inhibit leaders from moving forward. The months leading up to US national elections present a special challenge, we urge candidates not to use any rhetoric that could make prospects for peace more problematic.’ See:
Pray: that the next US President will uphold religious freedom and cultural justice into the national spotlight and preserve these most valued freedoms for future generations. (Ps.45:4)
More: http://www.pledgeforreligiousfreedom.com/pledge-for-religious-freedom
Last week a tornado outbreak of 440 warnings in five states killed 39 people and completely flattened whole townships. Meteorologists say this only comes along once every 10 or 20 years. The Salvation Army has sent in Emergency Disaster Service teams from nearby New Albany to the badly damaged town of Henryville in Clark County, where mobile canteens have been set up. Another team is providing food for 200 people at the Red Cross shelter in Charlestown. In Washington County, they are providing food for nearly 400 victims. The Salvation Army is assessing what's needed and providing support to the victims of these storms, and believe they will be meeting needs for a long time.’ Father Schaftlein in Henryville, a town severely affected said, ‘Although the response to provide help to those people affected has been significant, sustaining that outreach over the course of several months will be vital.'
Pray: for excellent communication between the various service providers, enabling swift, successful and appropriate aid wherever it is needed. (Php.4:19)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/salvation.army.aids.tornadoaffected.communities/29423.htm
Esfahan: Iranian security authorities had promised to release Enayat Jafari in one week if the media were not informed about this incident! However although the media promised, two weeks have now passed and still no precise information is available on this Christian detainee's situation. According to reporters of Iranian Christian news agency, Mohabat News, this is the first time that his name is being published as a detainee who was recently arrested in Esfahanon 22 February, 2012, at 7:00 a.m. Intelligence officers of Esfahan introduced themselves as agents of the Electricity Company. As the door was opened they invaded Mr Jafari’s home and arrested him. As usual they carefully searched his entire house, taking many of his personal belongings including his laptop, phone cards, books, CDs and even children's cartoons.
Pray: for the peace of God for Mr Jafari, his wife and three-year-old son, pray also for His protection and swift release. (Jer.30:16-17)
A Christian in Erbil writes, ‘If you have not yet heard there was a tragic shooting incident in Sulaimaniyah School of the Medes last week - a student killed an American teacher and then himself. Now it seems the issue is having larger influence on the Christian work here. Please find the following article about these discussions and pray that the present freedom could continue.’ Aknews reported, ‘The killing of an American private school teacher by one of his students has prompted calls for the revision of program modules at the Christian Medes School in Sulaimaniyah. The Kurdistan Teachers Union believes that the murder-suicide was motivated by religious reasons and the student was agitated by the school promoting Christianity. We have information which confirms that in some private schools in Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Duhok cities, a certain religion or sect (Christianity) is being promoted in a mainly Muslim country like Kurdistan.
Pray: the Ministry of Education would prevent further incidents while maintaining a Christian presence in the education system. (Ps.20:1-2)
More: http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/3/293682