This coming week as we enter the New 2012 Year we pray again for a different country each day, starting with the Denmark, a kingdom in Northern Europe. Known as Vikings, they accepted Luther’s Reformation, which became a State Church. Today a revival is needed from nominalism. Pray for spiritual openness and for all the new churches planted.
Djibouti is near the horn of Africa - hot, dry desert enclave between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, with hottest average temperatures of any country on earth. There is no Adventist presence there. Western military bases afford peace and safety in the country, but also hinder mission work, as Christianity is perceived as pro-Western faith. Pray that freedom from Islamist dominance will remain and faith in Christ would take roots.
Dominica is a Caribbean hurricane-prone mountainous island between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Former French influence established Catholicism, in recent years has evangelical faith growing. Adventists number nearly 10%.
Dominican Republic is located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, shared with Haiti. Home for Arawak Taino people, it became forcefully Catholic. The influence of the Catholic Church was such that, in the past, becoming a Protestant meant disapproval and ostracism. Yet most nominal Christians practice a dangerous blend of Christianity and Afro-spiritism, influenced by Cuban santeria and Haitian voodoo. Adventist Church has won 2% of population and continues growing.
Wednesday our prayers will be for Ecuador, a country in South America. Recent turmoil of political and economic changes continues social injustice while deep-seated corruption favours an entrenched elite. Pray for Adventist Church to offer need-oriented evangelism and nurture to people.
El Salvador has one of the highest percentage of Adventists in Central America. In Spanish country’s name means “The Saviour” it still has large native population holding to ethnic traditions. The impact of the civil war, over 350,000 children abandoned, left deep scars and needs healing and forgiveness among people. Displaced youth refugees find “home” in gangs. Here in London census lists over 70 Adventists from Salvador, and only a third do attend. Pray for reconciliation among Salvadorean people.
Friday we will lift another African country in prayer – Equatorial Guinea, former Spanish colony in West Africa with majority of Catholics, slowly opening for Protestant missions. Ravished economy occupies people with survival and spiritual quest is abandoned. Prayer for recovery.
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!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Pray for Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Cook Islands
This coming week we pray for a different country each day, starting with the Czech republic in the central Europe. Once a stronghold for Moravians, homeland John Huss, this land was battered by Communist regime and atheistic teachings for decades. The freedom here got translated into a “free-for-all” mind set. The moral vacuum that has emerged got filled with hedonistic materialism. It is known as crime-central in Europe. Sexual immorality, substance abuse, depression and suicide are more prevalent than in neighbouring countries. Atheism rose even more after Communism fell: from 40% in 1991 to 60% in 2001. Pray for genuine revival especially among the young generation. Adventist church is small in the country, yet is very creative in its outreach.
Sunday we will pray for Costa Rica. Home for the Central American Adventist University it is one of the fastest growing Adventist churches in the Latin world. Membership tripled in the last 15 years. Special need for prayers is for discipling converts, for nurturing members of churches.
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in West Africa is predominantly Muslim in the North and multi-faith in the south. Adventist church is small and has hard time ministering to the needs of people in times of political and economic instability. Pray for liberation of people from superstitions and traditional fetishism.
Croatia had recently suffered civil war, in a wake of Yugoslavia’s split. Animosity and hatred among orthodox Serbs, Muslim Bosnians and Catholic Croats is strong. Adventist church is one of the smallest in Western Europe. Pray that all Croatians would grow beyond formality of religion into living relationship with Christ.
Wednesday we will pray for Cuba. Still under Communist regime it suffers endemic poverty resulting in thriving black market of crime, drugs and prostitution, including sex tourism. Only Haiti is poorer than Cuba in the Caribbean basin. Black and mulatto Cubans suffer greater deprivation with fewer opportunities than whites. Adventist Church, though persecuted, grows large and strong. Pray for spiritual leadership.
Cyprus is a divided island between Greece and Turkey. The civil conflict lasts many decades and the Orthodox Christianity had blurred boundary between politics and faith, making it an ethnic belonging issue. While a centre for mission organizations serving in the Middle East, not much work is done among indigenous Cypriots. One Adventist church exists with about 70 members.
Next Friday we will pray for Cook Islands – place for the only Adventist island (Pitcairn) the region also presents challenges of nominal adherence. Pray for sincerity of believers and revival of passionate spirituality.
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!
Sunday we will pray for Costa Rica. Home for the Central American Adventist University it is one of the fastest growing Adventist churches in the Latin world. Membership tripled in the last 15 years. Special need for prayers is for discipling converts, for nurturing members of churches.
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in West Africa is predominantly Muslim in the North and multi-faith in the south. Adventist church is small and has hard time ministering to the needs of people in times of political and economic instability. Pray for liberation of people from superstitions and traditional fetishism.
Croatia had recently suffered civil war, in a wake of Yugoslavia’s split. Animosity and hatred among orthodox Serbs, Muslim Bosnians and Catholic Croats is strong. Adventist church is one of the smallest in Western Europe. Pray that all Croatians would grow beyond formality of religion into living relationship with Christ.
Wednesday we will pray for Cuba. Still under Communist regime it suffers endemic poverty resulting in thriving black market of crime, drugs and prostitution, including sex tourism. Only Haiti is poorer than Cuba in the Caribbean basin. Black and mulatto Cubans suffer greater deprivation with fewer opportunities than whites. Adventist Church, though persecuted, grows large and strong. Pray for spiritual leadership.
Cyprus is a divided island between Greece and Turkey. The civil conflict lasts many decades and the Orthodox Christianity had blurred boundary between politics and faith, making it an ethnic belonging issue. While a centre for mission organizations serving in the Middle East, not much work is done among indigenous Cypriots. One Adventist church exists with about 70 members.
Next Friday we will pray for Cook Islands – place for the only Adventist island (Pitcairn) the region also presents challenges of nominal adherence. Pray for sincerity of believers and revival of passionate spirituality.
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!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Pray for Colombia, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Democratic Congo
After praying two weeks for China we are moving on to pray for more countries. Today and tomorrow we lift Columbia in prayer. The fourth largest country on South American continent it also has been the most violent place. 75% of world production of cocaine comes from its cartels. Military and political conflicts on both sides, leftist socialist guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries both abandoned ideological agendas and have effectively become gangs profiting from cocaine and kidnapping. Medellin, an urban centre, nations crime capital is hard to the gospel mission. Pray for church to be strengthened in the cities. Native Amerindian people often turned into refugees because of violence. More than 50% of them have not heard the Gospel. Similar situation is with people of African descend – holding to their native religion in the environment of fear. Adventist church is about 300 thousand strong. Pray for our fellow believers to make a difference for Christ.
On Monday we invite you to pray for Comoros Islands, where almost entire population is Muslim. NO Adventist presence is known there. 780 mosques are present, but no official churches. Pray for the quiet witness of Christian missionaries.
For the rest of the week we will pray for Congo. First for the Republic. For three decades after it’s independence in 1960 people were subjected to Marxist-Leninist ideology and atheism. Church is very small, restoration and growth of the Christian witness is needed.
Then for three days, Wednesday-Friday we invite you to pray for the most violent place on African continent, a place where no woman is safe – formerly known as Zaire, Democratic Republic of Congo. This country, second largest in Africa, has been the site of the African World War since 1998, with 9 other nations involved and over 20 armed groups. More than 7 million were killed over past decade. Prevalence of rape and sexual violence is the worst in the world. Kivu region, the site of coltan mining (mineral for cell phones) is a non-stop conflict between groups eager to get rich quick. Even though Congo’s share on international market is about 13%, and other countries in the world produce most of it (Australia 50%, Brazil 26%, Canada 6%), because of instability it is a cheap unregulated source and warlords use it for their advantages.
Adventist church is large. In the country of 70 million there is half a million of Adventist believers. Pray for reconciliation, peace, end of war, binding of demonic powers, and growth of the Gospel among people. Pygmy people, despised and humiliated by Congolese tribes rarely get even a chance to become refugees, yet there are the most evangelized group in the country. Pray for their spiritual strength in adversity.
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!
On Monday we invite you to pray for Comoros Islands, where almost entire population is Muslim. NO Adventist presence is known there. 780 mosques are present, but no official churches. Pray for the quiet witness of Christian missionaries.
For the rest of the week we will pray for Congo. First for the Republic. For three decades after it’s independence in 1960 people were subjected to Marxist-Leninist ideology and atheism. Church is very small, restoration and growth of the Christian witness is needed.
Then for three days, Wednesday-Friday we invite you to pray for the most violent place on African continent, a place where no woman is safe – formerly known as Zaire, Democratic Republic of Congo. This country, second largest in Africa, has been the site of the African World War since 1998, with 9 other nations involved and over 20 armed groups. More than 7 million were killed over past decade. Prevalence of rape and sexual violence is the worst in the world. Kivu region, the site of coltan mining (mineral for cell phones) is a non-stop conflict between groups eager to get rich quick. Even though Congo’s share on international market is about 13%, and other countries in the world produce most of it (Australia 50%, Brazil 26%, Canada 6%), because of instability it is a cheap unregulated source and warlords use it for their advantages.
Adventist church is large. In the country of 70 million there is half a million of Adventist believers. Pray for reconciliation, peace, end of war, binding of demonic powers, and growth of the Gospel among people. Pygmy people, despised and humiliated by Congolese tribes rarely get even a chance to become refugees, yet there are the most evangelized group in the country. Pray for their spiritual strength in adversity.
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!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Continuing to pray for China
We are continuing praying for China since beginning of this month. December newsletter gives you details of each day prayer requests. Here I would outline a few for this week.
Traditional Chinese religions are atheistic in principle – Confucianism is all about rules of law and regulations that lead person to righteousness, bottom line its legalism; Buddhism and Daoism is also about human efforts. The new religion, Falun Gong, attracted over 70 million followers in over a decade to another form of self-improvement. The people of China need to know that real God, the Creator is personal and is involved in our lives, that salvation is free to take by faith. Pray for the Gospel to be made available to all Chinese.
Official Christian protestant church in China is registered as “Three Self Patriotic Movement.” Three self is not a Chinese for Trinity. It’s a missionary motto of self-governance, self-support and self-propagation. It survived the Communist regime as it emphasised indigenous efforts, and not outside influence. Registered churches had collaborated with the government in the past and are perceived as corrupted. No denominations are recognized in China, and all protestant branches are incorporated under the same “umbrella.” There is a need to reconcile independent house churches and organized churches for united Christian witness.
The new generation of youth is seduced by western values through internet and other by-products of globalization, yet without moral roots they are turning to existentionalism and survival by all means. Pray for opportunities to instil morality and ethics or righteousness through the exposure at Universities, home and abroad.
Remote provinces of China remain closed to Christian witness. Tibetan mystic Bon-Buddhism is still persecuted by the local government, and in such environment Christian witness is nearly impossible. Regions near Mongolia and Manchuria had been influenced by Islam for centuries and its desert environment keeps communities closer together, more committed to their traditions, making Christian penetration very difficult.
In Xinjiang Region ethnic conflicts between Uygur separatists and Han Chinese make Christian witness unacceptable by indigenous people groups. More than 60% of people living in the area are Turkic, related to the tribes of Central Asia. Pray for unique new ways of introducing the Gospel there.
In a special way pray for Chinese Diaspora, communities around the world, that as they discover Christ in Europe, Australia, USA, Canada they would make efforts to witness to their relatives in the mainland 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!
Traditional Chinese religions are atheistic in principle – Confucianism is all about rules of law and regulations that lead person to righteousness, bottom line its legalism; Buddhism and Daoism is also about human efforts. The new religion, Falun Gong, attracted over 70 million followers in over a decade to another form of self-improvement. The people of China need to know that real God, the Creator is personal and is involved in our lives, that salvation is free to take by faith. Pray for the Gospel to be made available to all Chinese.
Official Christian protestant church in China is registered as “Three Self Patriotic Movement.” Three self is not a Chinese for Trinity. It’s a missionary motto of self-governance, self-support and self-propagation. It survived the Communist regime as it emphasised indigenous efforts, and not outside influence. Registered churches had collaborated with the government in the past and are perceived as corrupted. No denominations are recognized in China, and all protestant branches are incorporated under the same “umbrella.” There is a need to reconcile independent house churches and organized churches for united Christian witness.
The new generation of youth is seduced by western values through internet and other by-products of globalization, yet without moral roots they are turning to existentionalism and survival by all means. Pray for opportunities to instil morality and ethics or righteousness through the exposure at Universities, home and abroad.
Remote provinces of China remain closed to Christian witness. Tibetan mystic Bon-Buddhism is still persecuted by the local government, and in such environment Christian witness is nearly impossible. Regions near Mongolia and Manchuria had been influenced by Islam for centuries and its desert environment keeps communities closer together, more committed to their traditions, making Christian penetration very difficult.
In Xinjiang Region ethnic conflicts between Uygur separatists and Han Chinese make Christian witness unacceptable by indigenous people groups. More than 60% of people living in the area are Turkic, related to the tribes of Central Asia. Pray for unique new ways of introducing the Gospel there.
In a special way pray for Chinese Diaspora, communities around the world, that as they discover Christ in Europe, Australia, USA, Canada they would make efforts to witness to their relatives in the mainland 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!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Praying for China
For the next two weeks we invite you to pray for China! December newsletter gives you details of each day prayer requests. Here I would outline a few for this week.
Majority of people living in China are of Han ethnicity, with over 600 dialects they keep the same written language. Their heritage is Confucian and is based on legalistic cause and effect interactions. Even though considered a religion Confucianism, as well as Buddhism, Jainism, Daoism are branches of atheism. God Person is not considered. It is all about cosmic power, universal balance, karma, superhuman, achievements by effort. Over the decades of Marxist ideology the atheism became even more rooted. Pray that people would encounter God in their lives, that they would understand their need for the personal Savior who cares and knows each one of us.
Over 60 million Chinese belong to the Communist party, nearly 3 million are in the military service, following rules and human made policies, often inhumane and inconsiderate of goodness, faith, truth, kindness. The whole system is based on “survival of the fittest” mindset. Party members are covering self-seeking opportunism with facade of ideology. Pray for a breakthrough of gospel light in that dark world of political prisons, and enslavement of people’s minds. Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict people of sin in their lives.
Overpopulated as China is perceived, it experiences horrible policies of controlling births – one child per family policy is affecting adversely society structures. Abortions and gender control resulted in some areas having 40% more men than women, ending in rape, abductions, sex slavery, prostitution, incest, rapid AIDS spread. There are over 100 million of single marriageable man. Pray for stabilization of population.
Economic liberty made a few very wealthy, improved living standards for many, but it also enslaved and impoverished many more. The gap between rich and poor increased. Poorer inland provinces are losing population moving to already saturated coastal provinces seeking opportunities to better themselves.
Deforestation, massive flooding, Three Gorges Dam, polluted rivers with human and industrial waste – the country cannot cope with the destruction of its land and resources.
As Christian agencies do their best to bring the Gospel into mainland China there are numerous obstacles. Recently a story surfaced where false literature was printed with major changes in the text, and sold under guise of real books, with same ISBN number, deceiving people in process. Import of Christian literature is still prohibited. Pray for radio broadcasters, for internet and satellite ministries reaching 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!
Majority of people living in China are of Han ethnicity, with over 600 dialects they keep the same written language. Their heritage is Confucian and is based on legalistic cause and effect interactions. Even though considered a religion Confucianism, as well as Buddhism, Jainism, Daoism are branches of atheism. God Person is not considered. It is all about cosmic power, universal balance, karma, superhuman, achievements by effort. Over the decades of Marxist ideology the atheism became even more rooted. Pray that people would encounter God in their lives, that they would understand their need for the personal Savior who cares and knows each one of us.
Over 60 million Chinese belong to the Communist party, nearly 3 million are in the military service, following rules and human made policies, often inhumane and inconsiderate of goodness, faith, truth, kindness. The whole system is based on “survival of the fittest” mindset. Party members are covering self-seeking opportunism with facade of ideology. Pray for a breakthrough of gospel light in that dark world of political prisons, and enslavement of people’s minds. Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict people of sin in their lives.
Overpopulated as China is perceived, it experiences horrible policies of controlling births – one child per family policy is affecting adversely society structures. Abortions and gender control resulted in some areas having 40% more men than women, ending in rape, abductions, sex slavery, prostitution, incest, rapid AIDS spread. There are over 100 million of single marriageable man. Pray for stabilization of population.
Economic liberty made a few very wealthy, improved living standards for many, but it also enslaved and impoverished many more. The gap between rich and poor increased. Poorer inland provinces are losing population moving to already saturated coastal provinces seeking opportunities to better themselves.
Deforestation, massive flooding, Three Gorges Dam, polluted rivers with human and industrial waste – the country cannot cope with the destruction of its land and resources.
As Christian agencies do their best to bring the Gospel into mainland China there are numerous obstacles. Recently a story surfaced where false literature was printed with major changes in the text, and sold under guise of real books, with same ISBN number, deceiving people in process. Import of Christian literature is still prohibited. Pray for radio broadcasters, for internet and satellite ministries reaching 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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