Pray for Myanmar, New Caledonia, Nepal, Nigeria

We continue praying for the world.  Today & Sunday we pray for Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.  In our congregation we have a few people from this diverse country.  It is second largest country in Southeast Asia, twice the population of Canada.  Until last year it was under a military regime for 50 years.  Among predominantly Teravada Buddhist culture there are ethnic minorities that embraced Christianity, but are being persecuted and oppressed.  Pray for especially for Karen and Chin people.  Burma is on the watch list of countries where war is on right now.

Monday we pray for New Caledonia, a large 400 km-long island, the Loyalty Islands, and other smaller coral islands 1,400 km northeast of Australia. It is French territory (former penal settlement) with French citizenship. Until mid 20^th century cannibalism was practiced among indigenous people.  Today over 80% are Catholic.  But most Christianized Kanaks often confuse gospel with Western culture, and try to localize gospel message by mixing animist practices under a Christian veneer. Pray for pastors to discern between tradition and the pure gospel.  Adventist church is growing.

Tuesday & Wednesday we lift in prayer Nepal.  Predominantly Hindu practicing population (highest than any other nation in percentage!) it has very small Christian presence.  Christian church started there only in 1952.  Yet under persecution Christian commitment is very strong. Pray for safety of believers.

Thursday we begin an eight-days-long prayer for Nigeria.  Seventh largest populated country in the world, and most populous in Africa!  Comprising 36 federal states it presents a lot of diversity in culture and beliefs.  Three largest and most influential ethnic groups are the Hausa (Muslim), Igbo (Christian) and Yoruba (ethnic animistic).  Northern part is enforcing Islam and is pushing Sharia law.  Pray for safety of Christian communities in that region.  Pray for the capital city where Christians and Muslims are present 50:50 in politics and economic sphere.

45 people groups are unreached and are practicing ethnic witchcraft religions. Oil-rich territory attracts military conflicts for access and control of resources. 

Adventist church in Nigeria has its University – Babcock, and an Adventist Radio recording studio.  Recent boom of movie making industry is transforming the culture of this nation.  Pray that Christian church will use all opportunities for the Gospel.

Pray for Mozambique, Morocco, Netherlands & Antilles, Namibia, Nauru

       As renovations are taking place in our home auditorium, the “prayer map” is down, but we continue praying for the world every day.  Today we lift in prayer Mozambique, former Portuguese colony, with the highest growth rate of Seventh-day Adventists, where 1.5% of population are members of our movement.  Stewardship education is needed to this rapidly growing young church family.  Pray for leadership development.

Sunday & Monday we lift in prayer Morocco.  A country with population and territory like California.  It has had no official Adventist presence until the past decade.  The Islamic fractions are also divided between moderate and extremists, making an outreach very difficult in an environment of strife.  It is a kingdom with stable political situation.  The Arab spring did not affect this nation, as people feared it would bring chaos.  Pray that in time of peace people would search for God, as 80% of people are unreached by the Gospel yet.

Tuesday we lift in prayer Kingdom of Netherland (Holland), or Dutch low-lands.  Over 20% of its territory is below sea level and with global warming rising people are concerned about ecological effects on their land.  It is one of the most affluent European countries.  It’s harbours handle more traffic than any other country in the world.  Yet the affluence is a challenge for church growth, as people are self-reliant and secularism is spread.  The influx of workers from Asia and Africa present a current challenge for integration in the church.  Also pray for the revival of morals in the country known for legal drugs and sex industry.

Wednesday we pray for Dutch Antilles, 5 islands north of Venezuela.  After split by Aruba in 1986 in 2010 these islands dissolved, giving independence to Curaçao and Sint Maarten.  Predominantly Christian, an outreach is needed to Asia workers.  Pray for Biblical literacy and Biblical education to take place at churches.

Thursday we lift in prayer African nation of Namibia. Former German colony it is least densely populated South African country.  German heritage comes through 50% of people adhering to Lutheran church. Other 40% are evangelicals.  However, AIDS epidemics claim 15% of its people.  Pray for revival of Christian values.

Friday we lift in prayers Nauru. It is a small republic of 10,000 on a raised coral atoll 300 km west of Solomon Islands.  Rich in phosphates it was strip mined first by Germans, then by British in the past.  Currently shrinking economy is leading to spiritual revival.  A third of population are Catholic, other 60% are Evangelicals.  Mormons & Jehovah Witnesses established their organizations there too.  Adventist message is new and congregation is very small.  There is only one Adventist church on the island in Port Macquarie.  Pray for openness of other evangelicals to the Seventh-day Adventist witness. 

Pray for Mexico, Mauritania, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat

We have been praying for Mexico since beginning of this month and will continue tomorrow. Today people of Mexico celebrate Sinco de Mayo, a commemoration of May 5, 1862 when the Mexican army was victorious over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. Currently the drug war escalated and Mexico is listed as one of 59 countries in the world where military conflict is on today. Pray that there will be victories in the Spiritual war against powers and principalities of darkness, that the church and individual Christians will be victorious for the Kingdom of God. Pray for church leadership to nurture people for peace and serving others.
Monday we lift in prayers Mauritania, predominantly Muslim country where Christians are persecuted, and slavery still exists. There is also a racial divide between white Moors who ruled southern Spain in Middle Ages, and black African tribes. Less than 0.3% are Christians. Pray for Gospel to enter this land.
Tuesday we lift in prayers Monaco. 2nd smallest state (after Vatican) with 99% Catholic adherence. Located on French Riviera it’s less than 2 sq km large with 32,000 population, and has highest in the world GDP per capita – $187,000 per person! No unemployment as 48,000 workers commute from France & Italy to this state. Most densely populated (2nd after Chinese Macau) Most expensive real-estate in the world. It’s source of wealth is gambling entertainment for world wealthy elite. Pray for materialistically busy people to seek God.
Wednesday we lift in prayers Mongolia. Least densely populated (after Greenland) this land is new to Christian influence. Christian church is only one generation old and already grown to 3% of population. One third are Buddhist, but majority are animists, following shamans, spirit worship and ancestral superstitions. 86% are not reached at all with even knowledge of the Gospel. Adventists have grown to 1700 and have 4 churches there. Pray for spiritual formation of young leadership.
Thursday we lift in prayer Montenegro, a new country which emerged from the break-up of Yugoslavia in 2006. Evangelical community is growing rapidly in this predominantly Eastern Orthodox land. As the country surfaces from troubled socialist past, the organized crime and corruption are main concerns. Pray for openness to Christianity in spite of economic troubles. Pray for churches commitment to justice and waling in truth.
Friday we will pray for the Caribbean island Montserrat, nearly destroyed by a volcanic eruption. In 1995 the historic capital city of Plymouth was destroyed and two-thirds of the island's population fled when Soufriere Hills volcano became active. In 2010, February, continued eruption buried the remnants of W. H. Bramble Airport. Adventists that remain constitute 12% of population. There is an awakening in churches from the nominal Christianity of the past. Pray for revival to continue among those who are committed to stay on the island and work on its rebuilding.

Pray this week for Moldova, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico

This week we will begin a 6 days of prayer for Mexico, starting on Tuesday, and until next Sunday. The country has double the saturation of Adventist believers than USA! 0.6% of population in Mexico embraced Adventist mission and message.
Today we lift in prayer a small central European country Moldova, east of Romania with a similar culture and language. The republic was a part of the Soviet Empire and continues with Communist tradition present. Past two decades harmed the Gospel work as the ethnic and military conflicts between Gagauz Turks, pro-Russian Transnistrian separatists, pro-Romanian nationalists, and communists drag on. Adventist presence is relatively high – matching that of USA, triple than what we experience here in South Western Ontario. With a population equal of South Western Ontario there are 11,000 believers and 160 churches! Recent wave of emigration, youth leaving for better opportunities in the West, hindered growth and outreach of the local church there. The country is also listed as one of the poorest in Europe. Pray for commitment of Adventist church for ministering to the community.
Tomorrow, Sunday, we pray for Mauritius, a group of islands east of Madagascar, with half of population Hindus. Past Christian history of hyper-ecumenism paints proselytizing, changing faith, or preaching conversion as imperialistic and intolerant. Adventist church is growing successfully. Pray for unity among believers as the church grows there.
Monday we pray for Mayotte – two islands west of Madagascar, with a small population 200,000 and a small Adventist church of 60 people. Predominantly Muslim, with minor French Catholic Christian presence, the people are not open for evangelical mission. Pray for freedom and opportunities to witness.
Mexico is the world largest Spanish speaking country. Very diverse population with 297 languages spoken, besides the Spanish. There are still unreached groups of people, marginalized Amrinidians - Chatino, Yaitepec, Nahuatl, Mixteco, Zapoteco, about 10% of population, which worship ethic religions.
Church is trying to meet many human needs – poverty among rural and exploited slum-dwellers. 60% of people struggle with poverty. Corruption exists at all levels of military, police and government, allowing for organized crime to continue in power. Massive drug trade and trafficking is surrounded with gang violence. This sinful structures bring a lot of money to Mexican economy and the negative impact on souls of people is overlooked. Wealth accumulated by criminal cartels and their ruthless attitude toward people is a cover for tough spiritual warfare and demonic oppression in the country. Drug addicts number almost 1% of population. Pray for church as it ministers to the afflicted.
Next Sabbath people of Mexico will celebrate Sinco de Mayo, a commemoration of May 5, 1862 when the Mexican army was victorious over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. Pray that there will be victories in the Spiritual war against powers and principalities of darkness. That the church and individual Christians will be victorious for the Kingdom of God.

Praying for Malaysia, Malawi, Madagascar, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Martinique

This week we continue praying for a different country each day. Today we look at Malaysia, densely populated, spread on the peninsula and island of Northern Borneo its population is 60% Muslim and it is illegal to witness there. Major challenge is the shortage of trained pastoral workers. Majority of the church are youth under 30. By per capita this country has less Adventists than Canada, which is disproportionate to neighboring Philippines, where Adventist church numbers over a million members. Pray for freedom to witness.
Sunday we lift in prayer Malawi. Freedom of worship here has been a blessing for fast growth of our church, half population of Canada it has over 300,000 of Adventist believers. Pray for ADRA projects there, especially for relief of AIDS epidemic, and providing shelters to orphans. There is a concern about fast growing Islamic presence. Pray for continuing freedom of faith.
Monday we pray for Madagascar (fourth largest island in the world!) Extreme poverty where 90% live on less than $2 per day. Emerging from military Marxist regime the church is growing rapidly. Adventist church doubled in the last 10 years! Andapa Adventist Hospital provides credible witness. Pray for continuing increase in mission work.
On Tuesday we pray for Maldives of the coast of India and Sri Lanka are still in the category of “families still to gather” as there is no Adventist Church presence there. Over 2000 islands over 700 kms, of which 200 are populated by Sunni Muslims. Only Adventist Radio offers the ministry there currently. Pray for a mission breakthrough.
Wednesday we raise in prayer Mali. The land of Timbuktu. Predominantly Muslim. The country suffers from encroaching Sahara desert, severe droughts and famine. Adventist church started two decades ago and is growing by one-on-one witness. Pray for Christian missionaries, ADRA and all relief workers to show love of Christ in practical ways.
Thursday we lift in prayer Malta, where Adventist presence is also new, registered in 1994 and within last two decades only 27 members accepted the Three Angels message. Most Maltese are Roman Catholic and the Catholic Christianity has a long history of surviving Muslim occupation. There were no protestants there at all until 1964! This island was first in Western Europe to learn about Christianity when Apostle Paul shipwrecked there. It is a strategic naval place in Mediterranean. As part of European Union is also suffers from decadence and secularism. Pray for spiritual search and revival.
Friday we lift in prayers Martinique – a French Caribbean island between St.Lucia and Dominica. As a part of France it is a member of European Union with EURO as a currency. People are enjoying higher level of economic security. With strong Cathlic presence, the Adventist church is also fast growing and vibrant. Adventists on the island enjoy about the same ratio per capita as other Caribbean nations. The current challenge is also similar – many believers are coming from dysfunctional or single-parent families and from a background of immorality and drug abuse. Pray for transforming power of the Gospel to set captives free, to give deliverance to the oppressed.

Pray this week for Liberia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia

This week we will pray for a different country each day. In the array we have the wealthiest and the poorest per capita. Pathfinders Club has been working on ADRA development honour, learning about developing countries and communities in need of relief and support. A look at IMF or Human Development index reveals the worst situation in Africa. The 30 countries at the bottom of the list are on African continent. Out of 187 listed, Liberia is 182. Country that has no roots in ancient history and traces its beginnings to 1820 when the region was colonized by freed American slaves with the help of the American Colonization Society, which believed ex-slaves would have greater freedom and equality in Africa. Slaves freed from slave ships were also sent there instead of being repatriated to their countries of origin. In 1847, these colonists founded the Republic of Liberia, establishing a government modeled on that of the United States and naming the capital city Monrovia after American President James Monroe. Two recent civil wars left country’s economy devastated. African traditional beliefs, tribal secret societies, fetishism and Freemasonry pervasively every confession of Christianity in Liberia. Adventist Church is strong and is involved in mission. Pray for ADRA workers in this region.
Lesotho is listed 160th on the human development list. A unique country which is a “land island” completely surrounded by South Africa. 80% Christian population experiences compromise with traditional beliefs. Pray for revival of witness. Adventist church operates Maluti hospital in this region.
Monday we pray for Liechtenstein, a country smaller than our city of London, located on the border between Switzerland and Austria, famous for artistic postal stamps which account for 10% revenue! Witness is difficult among the Roman Catholic population. Pray for open doors for reformation of Christianity.
Tuesday we lift in prayer Lithuania, a southernmost Baltic country of former Soviet republics. Very traditional culture, bend on preserving historical heritage, makes difficult to witness to Adventism. In 1991 there were about 40 believers, and the church has been growing slowly. Pray for strength among leadership.
Wednesday we pray for Libya, infamous for its recent uprising against dictatorial Gaddafi family, the country is in turmoil between fractions that want to separate into three smaller sovereignties. Pray for peace, cease of violence, restoration of life for people. Adventist presence is very small, mainly among foreign workers. Pray for witness to be possible, that the radical Islam will not take power.
Thursday we pray for Luxembourg, Catholic by constitution, where Adventist church was first established in 1971and has not grown since. Literature distribution is forbidden by law, door-to-door witnessing is forbidden. Evangelism is not happening in this land between Germany, Belgium and France. Pray for hunger among people to seek truth, and for openness to hear it.
Friday we will pray for Macedonia. Historical homeland of Alexander the Great of Biblical prophetical fame. The traditional faith is Eastern Orthodox and people are not open for “sectarian” witness. Least developed among former Yugoslavian republics, the country today has large population of Albanian Muslims (about 30%) and significant presence of Roma Gypsies. Pray for Christian love to be the main venue of witness.

Pray for South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Latvia, Laos

Today continue to pray for the South Korea. Smaller in size but double population to its north neighbour, this country has seen the greatest growth and revival of Christianity in Asia. With early morning and evening prayer meetings every day and all night, prayer concerts on weekends and prayer mountains (retreat centres), the commitment of Korean Christians to prayer is remarkable. One third of people are Christian. Another third are irreligious, and one third is Buddhist or Confucian. Pray for compassion in this nation as they serve Northern refugees and prepare to assist in humanitarian crisis from the North.
Tomorrow we lift in prayer Kosovo, a newly formed independent country since 2008. Located between Albania and Serbia it has experienced a decade of war and civil unrest. More than one million refugees were displaced. The country became crime-central in Europe. Ethnically Albanian but under Serbian political rule they could not join Albania and the way out was independence. Mountainous region adds unique character to its inhabitants. Muslim majority is intolerant of Christians as it is seen associated with ethnic Serbs. There is no Adventist presence there at all. Large financial injections from Saudi Arabia and Iran come with strings attached that pull Kosovo toward more radical forms of Islam. While hundreds of mosques have been erected using this money, hundreds of Christian sites have been damaged or destroyed by angry mobs. Pray for openness to Christ in this land.
Monday we pray for Kuwait, a unique country in the Arab world where tolerance for other faiths is based on the reality that foreigners comprise most of the workforce. South Asians, Filipinos, Indonesians, Chinese and Koreans predominate as contract laborers or domestic servants. A large number of Kuwaiti families leave much of the child raising to the maids and nannies many of whom are committed Christians. Even as they are considered beneath Arabs and there are no official channels handling the mistreatment and abuse that regularly occurs, pray that Christians would witness as servant-leaders.
Tuesday we pray for Kyrgyzstan – the poorest nation in Central Asia. Formerly Soviet republic it witnessed rapid church growth in 1990s. But since 2000 Islam is on the rise. Predominantly Muslim country people are also influence of shamanism and ancestral worship. Pray for Christian witness not to be hindered by ethnic clashes.
Lebanon – formerly Christian country, rapidly becoming Muslim. It is the only country in the Middle East where all are legally free to change their religious affiliation. Christians from other Arab countries come here for training. Pray for freedom to continue.
Latvia, as many post-Soviet republics, has developed hostility toward ethnic Russians, and it is hindering the unity of Christian witness. Pro-Germanic attitudes are combined with anti-Semitism causing difficulties to large population of Jews and Sabbath keeping Christians. Pray for fast growing evangelical church to be consistent with Gospel principles.
Laos - church was persecuted under Communist rule, yet it became the factor for growth, as people prayed and relied on God. Christians lost property, ministers were often imprisoned and killed. Christian presence is very small, but committed. Pray for strength, endurance and safety of Christian mission there.
Pray for the world, so the Gospel Work will go forward!