Pray for Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks & Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda

Since Thursday and until Sunday we continue praying for Turkey, the secular muslim country where Christianity is not growing and Adventist mission has met resistance.  Turkish Bible has been available since 2001.  Pray for opportunities to distribute the Word of God to the local people.  Also due to the conflict between Turks and Kurds there has been a lot of refugees/immigrants from that region in Canada and Western Europe.  Germany has the highest Turkish population in Europe.  Pray that Christian churches would reach out to these immigrant communities and through them influence their home country for Christ.  Pray for Christian churches to be established among Kurds. Pray also for Iranian refugees who live in Turkey. Pray for the spirit of humility and repentance among Turks for the past abuses against ethnic minorities.  Pray for unity among Christians in Turkey.

Monday we lift in prayer another Turk country – Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic that has been under dictatorship since 1992, ruled by “president-for-life” Niyazov.  Constitutionally there is a “freedom of religion” but in practice there are only Sunni Muslims and Russian Orthodox Christians, everyone else is persecuted.  A single existing Adventist church has been persecuted, bombed, burned, bulldozed.  Pray for religious freedom for believers.  Pray for end of dictatorship and opportunity to witness.   Turkmen diaspora which is larger than the population of the home-country also remains unevangelised in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria.  Pray for a gospel breakthrough.

Tuesday we lift in prayer Turks and Caicos islands east of Cuba & Bahamas.  Offshore financing of money-laundering, tourism which results in drug trafficking and licentiousness challenge Christian values.   It has a high Adventist presence.  Pray that our churches will be agents of change for righteousness.

Wednesday we lift in prayer Tuvalu state.  A small nation (24 km²) that is under threat of disappearing as the ocean level rises.    Adventist Church is the 2^nd largest, ahead of Catholic & JW.  Pray that we (ADRA) would be a positive witness to the congregational national Christians. 

Thursday and Friday we pray for Uganda – “pearl of Africa,” a fertile and well-watered land.  The people had suffered since 1970s Idi Amin’s dictatorship and no one knows how many perished since during following civil wars and tribal killings.  There are still militants who abduct children in the North.  Joseph Kony is the most wanted criminal guilty for thousands of child-soldiers.  Pray for his capture and end of atrocities toward women and children. 

The church in Uganda had seen miraculous growth in the last 20 years. From mega churches of 15,000 members to network of house churches and small groups, the gospel is at work.  The Christian outreach has helped to reduce AIDS epidemics from 25% to 10%.  Adventist population is reaching 1%.   Pray for the work of ADRA in the region, for decrease in infant mortality, and for continuing growth of Christian values.

Pray for Thailand, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey

Today we conclude our 3 days prayer for Thailand – the “land of the free” Where Buddhist majority is not open to Gospel message.  Pray for mission opportunities, for Christians present there to be powerful witness attracting indigenous people to seek for Christ.

Tomorrow we pray for Tokelau Islands – 3 small islands with about 10 sq kms of land and 1400 people.  The small nation is non-self governing and has not formed governance. Pray for revival and search for more truth among predominantly Congregational Christian and Catholic population.

Monday we lift in prayers Tonga – a Christian kingdom of 171 islands.  The largest presence is that of Mormons.  Adventist Church is 6^th in size after Catholics and Methodists.  Mormons are largest employers, and many people “convert” for the sake of employment, while holding dual affiliation.  Pray for revival and spiritual commitment of believers.  Recent Chinese immigrants have not been reached with the Gospel and remain a segregated community.

Tuesday we pray for Trinidad & Tobago, two islands, the most southern in the Caribbean.  The population presents an interesting mix – 40% of Indian descend, 40% of African & 20% European. There is still racial tension between these communities and it affects the unity of Christian church and outreach.  5% of population are Seventh-day Adventists, which is twice less than most other Caribbean islands. Many Christians are nominal; many others are polluted by witchcraft, Afro-Spiritist beliefs and Hinduism-influenced worldviews.  Family life and morals within the Christian sphere often do not demonstrate the lordship of Christ.  Pray for integrity of Christian life as a witness of Spirit transformation and revival.  

Wednesday we lift in prayer Tunisia.  The most progressive and open country in the Arab world.  It is the site to historical Carthage civilization, and Berber Christians. Yet today predominantly Muslim it has 65% of people unreached by the Gospel at all.  Islam is the state religion claiming 99.7%.  Local islam is very secular and people are more committed to wealth and materialism than pursuing spiritual meaning.  The political unrest that started with 26-year old setting himself on fire in protest i9n December 2010 let to “Arab spring” in January 2011.  Yet comparatively it was least violent of uprisings in the region.  Pray for more openness for mission and Gospel witness.

Thursday we begin 4 days prayer for Turkey. The land of Revelation’s 7 churches and earliest Christianity today is Muslim.   Turkic heritage migrated here 800 year ago, pushed by Mongol invasions, and since then dominated the region, replacing the original Anatolian culture. As Ottoman Empire it ruled Europe, Asia, Arabia & North Africa.  In the 19^th century it’s power declined.  In 20^th century its people rejected Islam as a state religion for secular option. Ataturk abolished muslim schools in 1923 and introduced western laws, script and culture.  Since 1952 it became NATO member against the Soviet empire.  Yet, it remains traditionally muslim and Christian church has very little success. Adventist presence is literally 1 in a million!  Christian churches are present only in 15 out of 80 provinces. Currently there is also unrest as struggle continues between 20% Kurdish minority for independence.  Pray for mission opportunities for people to discover the Gospel.

Pray for Tanzania, Tajikistan, Timor Leste, Togo, Thailand

Today and tomorrow we lift in prayer Tanzania – an island of peace in the war thorn East-Central Africa.  1% of its population have embraced the Adventist mission and are active in witness and helping people, especially refugees from neighbouring Burundi and Rwanda.  Country with strong Muslim roots had seen many conversions of Muslims to Christianity.  Today 54% are Christians.  However there are still 20% of people groups unreached, practicing ethnic animism.   Pray for continuing peace and safety, and for mission of the Gospel to expand.

Monday we lift in prayer Tajikistan.  Persian speaking people related by culture to Afghanistan, they had been independent from Soviet rule since 1992.  Yet the civil war and ethnic conflict among clans continue.  Currently the fighting broke out again.  More than 90% are Muslim and Christian mission is illegal.  Adventist believers are less than 1 per 1000.  Majority of Christians are Russian Orthodox, who see their religion equivalent to their nationality and are not seeking for truth.  Pray for openness to Christian witness.

Tuesday we lift in prayer Timor Leste, and eastern part of Timor Island of Indonesia.  Former Portuguese colony, it had seen rapid growth of Catholic church as a symbol of resistance to Muslim Indonesia, however many believers are traditional spiritists.  Sovereign since 2002 the new country still suffers from effects of struggle for independence and war with Indonesia.   Adventist presence is very small – about 300 believers.  Pray for strengthening of church and mission work there.

Wednesday we lift in prayer Togo, a country next to Ghana in West Africa.  Since its independence in 1967 it has been ruled by one family, son replaced the father in 2005.  Democracy is nominal, and there is tribal divide between north and south regions.  Poverty and human trafficking is widespread under corrupt military and government.   Pray for Christians to be united in mission.

Thursday we begin 3 days of prayer for Thailand.  An independent kingdom that has never been ruled by Westerners.  Their king has reigned since 1946 and outlived many political coups and changes. 20^th by population size it is also very industrialized country.   The last two decades had been the most successful economically.  The “land of the free” is 95% Buddhist and conversions are very difficult.  It hosts refugees from many countries – Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma, and many have accepted Christ through he work of mission agencies, yet the outreach to native Thai is difficult.  Thai national identity and religion are interlinked.  It’s Buddhist worldview causes misconceptions about human destiny and as a result it has the highest in the world sex-trade and oppresses youth boys and girls into slavery.  Gangs from Central Asia proliferate in illegal human trafficking.  67% people groups are still unreached by the Gospel.  Pray for mission work to grow and develop in Thailand, for Adventist church to expand its work in that region. 

Pray for Swaziland, Sudan, Switzerland, Suriname, Sweden, Syria

For the past two months teachers have abandoned classrooms in Swaziland, striking not just for salary increase but for democratic reforms in Africa’s last absolute monarchy.  People see the king as the reason for their poverty.  King Mswati is the ultimate source of decisions, arbitrator, adjudicator and executioner, and traumatized people call him “king from hell.”  25% of people are affected by AIDS.  More than 50% of people live below poverty line without any hope.  Adventist church is growing fast and is sizeable, 0.5% of total population.  Pray for church to be the vehicle of hope for people.

Sunday and Monday we lift in prayer Sudan.  Tensions between Muslims in the North and Christians and ethnic pagans in the South had resulted in over 2 million of people dead over the last decade.  2003 Darfur region conflict is still fresh in the memory of many as refugees came to Canada, and we had interacted with many in our community.  Since 1983 Sudan had been declared Islamic country and had been enforcing Shari’a law.  Recent secession of southern states in July 2011did not resolve the conflict, only provided boundaries, along which conflict is continuing.  It’s economy, in spite of rich oil reserves, is in the lowest 20 on the world scale.  Pray for protection of Christians and missionaries, especially in the Northern Sudan.  Pray for restoration of order in Southern Sudan.

Tuesday we lift in prayer Suriname, a former Dutch colony south of Guyana. A small country with about half a million population it has been in fighting since its independence in 1975. Guerilla civil war is over but the political fighting continues.  Pray for order in the land.  Adventists are 1 out of 120.  Pray that our church influence will be positive to reconciliation, morality, and social justice. 

Wednesday we lift in prayer Switzerland.  A land bordering Germany, Italy & France, populated by all three ethnic groups and having a unique status of “neutrality” in Europe since 1815.   The country used to be the top on the list of quality of life and human development, and today it is in the top 10 best countries to live in.  It is 7^th by wealth per capita.  It is a homeland of Reformers Zwingli & Calvin (Zurich & Geneva).  Yet today, the comfortable living permitted secularism, where people are agnostic.  There is a revival among the youth.  Pray for spiritual renewal.

Thursday we pray for yet another wealthy and secular European country, standing above Swiss – Sweden.  One of the most extensive welfare systems in the world, providing free healthcare, education and benefits for everyone.  It is a desirable destination for refugees, creating environment of cultural diversity. It also leads the way supporting equal rights for women. In 1999 the majority of the Swedish government were women – a world first.  It is the 3^rd largest European country by area. Wealth & comfort are also cause of lax attitude toward faith. Adventist presence is twice less per capita than in Switzerland, and 3 times less than among neighbouring Finland & Norway.  Pray for church to find an approach to share Christ in the time of prosperity.

Friday we lift in prayers war-thorn Syria. Since March 2011 the country has been in turmoil between rebels and government forces.  In the last few days there has been escalation of the conflict.  Pray for protection to civilians, for safety of innocent people.  87% are Muslim, majority of population are Arab, and if the country falls under rebel dominance it would become probably even more islamist. Some are referring to Isaiah 17 prophecy that Damascus will lay in ruins, which ahs never been yet in history, as the prediction of inevitable doom.  Pray for God to hold the strife for Christian witness to continue.  There is still no Adventist presence there.  Pray God’s mercy on people in that land.