Indonesia: ’What happens now?’
Stadiums full, hundreds of thousands from all denominations, countries and generations gathering, millions tuning in – this was the biggest prayer meeting the world had ever seen. So, three weeks after the World Prayer Assembly in Indonesia the question is ‘What happens now?’ A founding visionary behind the first International Prayer Gathering in Seoul, South Korea in 1984 said that if history is anything to go by ‘What happens now could change ‘mission’ as we know it. ’At the 1984 Assembly there were 7,000 delegates from 70 countries with almost 300,000 Koreans in the large prayer gatherings. It was life-changing and birthed what we know as the modern prayer movement. The Korean church came alive to missions and out of it they began to pray and 10,000 missionaries were sent out over the next 20 years all over the world. You will not find a nation on earth today where there’s not a Korean missionary.’ So - what happens now?
Pray: for many to partner with them in prayer as they move forward in the momentum of the World Prayer Assembly. (Hab.2:14)
More: http://www.24-7prayer.com/features/1787
Zambia/Mozambique: Sub-Saharan African Church
On the outside, they are dressed in the uniform of the church that they attend. They are known by their colours and the ‘chitenges’ (fabric skirts) that personify their church. Purple means Baptist, red means Reformed Church, and Blue means Jehovah’s Witnesses. On the outside they seem to adhere to the teachings of their church, but on the inside they cling to African traditional religion which holds closely to ancestor worship and spirit worship. On the outside they look clean and religious, but on the inside they are in bondage and seeking freedom.
Pray: that the Nsenga people will heed the words of Christ and have a relationship with Him and no other. (Mat.23:26)
Nigeria: Blast wreaks bloodshed on two Churches in Bauchi,
A suicide bomber crashed the gate of a church compound in this northern Nigerian city this morning, killing himself and at least 10 others and leaving more than 30 injured, according to eyewitnesses and officials. The Islamic extremist Boko Haram group was suspected of detonating the bomb at the gate of Living Faith Church as members were leaving an early morning worship service. The explosion also brought down a wall of the adjacent Harvest Field church, an eyewitness told Compass. ‘Security agents who were within the vicinity of the two churches tried to force the suicide bomber to stop at a security checkpoint, but the bomber crashed his car into the gates of one of the two churches, the Living Faith church, killing many people and injuring many others,’ said Kyemme Nzarmo, a student at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi.
Pray: for peace in Nigeria, that God would enable a breakthrough and that extremists will cease their atrocities. (Ps.34:14)
More: http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/nigeria/article_1574817.html
Syria: US urges China and Russia to be ‘part of solution in Syria
On Tuesday US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, ‘We believe there is a way forward and we are ready to pursue that. And we invite the Russians and the Chinese to be part of the solution.’ She spoke after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s President Hu Jintao agreed at a meeting in Beijing that they would work together more closely at the United Nations.Pres Jintao said the two giant neighbours could together ‘set the global political and economic order in a more fair and rational direction.’ The combination appeared to be a setback for Clinton’s efforts to get international backing for a political transition in Syria, ultimately including the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On Wednesday she met with leaders from European powers and regional states that are increasingly fearful of a descent into all-out civil war in Syria, with destabilizing dangers for its neighbours.
Pray: for Russia and China to work positively with the United Nations to bring about a peaceful end to massacres and avoid a civil war in the region. (Mat.5:9)
Cuba: Calls for greater ecumenical partnerships
The newly elected president of the Council of Churches in Cuba (CIC) says he believes Pentecostal and historic churches can work together ‘because God calls us to be God's people.’ The Rev Joel Ortega Dopico, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, called on the leaders of the churches to take advantage of the moment to think about social, ecclesiastical and ecumenical projects, ‘for what we lack to be able to come together as a Cuban family.’ In his sermon at the Council's assembly where the new leadership of CIC was installed, Ortega referred to the encounter of the rich man with Jesus and pointed out the need for a greater commitment to the cause of the Kingdom of God. 'It is a Biblical narrative of hope', he said, because it allows Pentecostal and historic churches to be united, past and present generations to meet together, as well as believers and non-believers.
Pray: for the churches of Cuba to draw closer together in unity building the Kingdom of God. (Jn.17:20-22)
More: http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5707
China: Churches requested to desist
Authorities in China’s Sichuan province have asked a large house church to stop all its activities, the church's pastor told Radio Free Asia. ‘The authorities have asked us to end our family church congregations, calling our gatherings 'illegal,' said Pastor Li, spiritual head of a 1,500-member house church in Sichuan’s Langzhong city. Li said the government's ‘request’ was sent to the home of a church member, not to the church's meeting place. Chinese authorities have recently increased restrictions on house churches whose total membership estimated to be about 40 million. ‘The severity of the crackdown on family churches varies in different places,’ said Zhang Mingxuan, president of the Chinese Association of Christian Family Churches. ‘In places where there are many family churches, the local government may have a better understanding of them, and officials will be more prudent. But in places where you have only a few believers, local authorities will treat them as an ‘evil cult.’’
Pray: that these moves ordering churches to stop their activities would cease. (Ps.140:4)
More: http://www.worthynews.com/11522-chinese-church-requested-to-desist
Eritrea: Kidnapped women forced to embrace Islam In Egypt
There was concern on Tuesday, June 5, over the whereabouts of two Eritrean women who were among a group kidnapped in Cairo by men claiming to be police officers, underscoring the risks faced by Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt, including Christians, rights activists said. The two missing persons were among six young women, aged between 20 to 32, who were reportedly abducted after boarding a taxi and later pressured to embrace Islam. ‘In each instance, the taxi was stopped by men in police uniforms, who opened the door and sprayed an unknown substance into their faces, causing them to lose consciousness,’ said advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), which has investigated the case. One of the women, who was abducted on her way to church and held for approximately three weeks, said that after awaking she found herself in a small room housing five other women.
Pray: for these women that God would protect them and others under the threat of abduction. (Ps.32:7)
More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/21954-kidnapped-eritrean-forced-to-embrace-islam-in-egypt
Afghanistan: Breathtaking rescue of kidnapped aid workers
Last week we prayed for the safe release of Christian aid workers kidnapped in a remote area of Badakhshan's Yafta district. (See Prayer Alert 22-2012) This week we can give thanks for their release. David Cameron authorized a dramatic cave rescue by the SAS of the British aid worker Helen Johnston who was one of those being held. He gave the go-ahead for the operation last Friday when the gang threatened to kill Miss Johnston and the other hostages unless an Afghan drug baron was released from prison and the ransom paid. Troops took part in a 'long march' to a cave where the hostages were held, without being spotted. SAS officers then arrived by helicopter, stormed the cave in the dead of night and all hostages were rescued safe, no troops injured.
Praise: God for this speedy answer to prayer. (Ps.113:1-2)
Afghanistan: Breathtaking rescue of kidnapped aid workers
Last week we prayed for the safe release of Christian aid workers kidnapped in a remote area of Badakhshan's Yafta district. (See Prayer Alert 22-2012) This week we can give thanks for their release. David Cameron authorized a dramatic cave rescue by the SAS of the British aid worker Helen Johnston who was one of those being held. He gave the go-ahead for the operation last Friday when the gang threatened to kill Miss Johnston and the other hostages unless an Afghan drug baron was released from prison and the ransom paid. Troops took part in a 'long march' to a cave where the hostages were held, without being spotted. SAS officers then arrived by helicopter, stormed the cave in the dead of night and all hostages were rescued safe, no troops injured.
Praise: God for this speedy answer to prayer. (Ps.113:1-2)
Estonia: Christians unite for Christ Day
Churches across Estonia - Evangelical, Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic - are working together towards a national prayer celebration called Christ Day. On July 28, 2012 they will gather in the capital Tallinn to unite, lift up Jesus Christ and commit their country to the Lord. They started off with a 40 Days Prayer and Fasting initiative before Easter. The vision is not just a one-day event, but a long-term process of missional collaboration. Christians will be challenged to be a blessing to their municipality and pray regularly for their country..
Praise: God for this initiative in Estonia and pray for all other events celebrating Christ Day. (Ps.147:1)((
More: http://www.hfe.org/Hope-II-congress/Speakers/HansPeter-Nuesch.aspx