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.