This week we continue praying for the world, and in a special way begin to two week long prayer cycle for China – the largest population in the world. Starting Tuesday as we pray for Hong Kong, then Macau & Taiwan – these are Chinese territories which share similar history. Our video-cast prayer today is taken from China in preparation for the 18 days of prayer.
But first - today’s prayer is for Central African Republic. Much needed is peace and stability especially in the north east region. Constant uprisings and banditry halt government’s already insufficient efforts to restore the infrastructure. Anarchy continues to reign in the north of the country, and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes in the past few years. Pray that banditry and chaos might not prevail and that a strong and just central government can establish peace throughout the country. Adventist church is present less than in Canada (by percentage), however there is strong potential for growth and outreach.
On Sunday we turn our prayers to it’s north neighbour – Chad, the source of banditry and rebel groups. A country with 53% population Muslim, has one of the lowest Adventist presence in Africa –1 per 3,000. Chad is one of very few Muslim-majority countries where Christian workers are still welcome and find openness and access, where the government is truly secular in its operations. Pray that the doors of opportunity to witness would remain open.
Monday we cross the ocean in Prayer for Chile. I had a privilege to spend a couple of weeks there in 2008 on Maranatha mission trip. Its population is slightly larger than Ontario, and Adventist Church is over 120,000! They embrace the ministry of all believers with lay members actively involved in evangelism and church planting. However, the country still has not fully recovered from consequences of the military dictatorship ousted in 1988. Remote villages need much infrastructure development. Majority are Catholic and open to superstitious beliefs. Pray for church to take leadership in developing the new generation.
Hong Kong, a city state with over 7 million population is the gateway into China. Christian publications and missionaries go through Hong Kong into mainland China. Adventist church is only 4600 strong. Continue praying for Christian witness to remain a positive influence for the rest of China.
Macau, west of Hong Kong, also city-state, but much smaller, only half a million people, experiences different dynamics. It is less Christian. Adventist church has about 200 people. It was the first Christian territory in Asia to become non-Christian. Occupied by Portuguese, by 1600s 95% of Macau’s population were Catholic. Today less than 3% claim Christianity. Pray for restoration of the Gospel.
On Thursday we pray for Taiwan, a mountainous island 160 km east of mainland China, the most densely populated territory on earth. 81% of people live in cities. It has a controversial and ambiguous political status – de facto independent, yet de jure a renegade province of China. Claiming independence would almost certainly bring a hostile, even military response from China. Adventist presence is the same proportionately as in the rest of China. More would be written over the next two weeks on church needs in China.
As you are praying weekly, daily for all nations, I trust your awareness of how large the harvest is grows too. Pray the Lord of the Harvest to make you a labourer!
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