We are praying for: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra

This week we begin our One Year Experiment by praying for nations of the world. A comprehensive monthly calendar is published in the Newsletter (back page).

The second challenge – start daily reading of the Bible, plan to complete the Book from cover to cover in one year.

This week two of the countries on the list have no Adventist presence at all – Afghanistan and Andorra. These had been listed in the Adventist world directory as “families yet to gather.” One is a large country of about 30 million, the least developed, thorn by civil war and terror of Taliban for past three decades, under influence of radical Islam. This strategic land has been fought over by rival foreign empires for nearly three thousand years. 93% of people living there have not been exposed to the Gospel of Christ. Today & Sunday we will pray that the conflict would stop and people would grow to seek truth and spirituality.

Another is a small county in the heart of the Pyrenean mountains between France and Spain, with population size of Sarnia, under Catholic influence. Formerly a smugglers’ refuge, Andorra now attracts well-heeled tourists, financiers and those taking advantage of duty-free goods. Empty materialism is the norm, spirituality is thin on the ground, and the Church is on the defensive. Many consult mediums, seers and astrologers for guidance and advice, usually at a significant financial cost. Next Friday, the 7^th we will pray that the Holy Spirit would touch hearts of people, expose and disarm the power of the occult.

On Tuesday and Wednesday we will be praying for Algeria, which is also almost unentered by Adventist message. A single church with about 200 believers consists of immigrant workers in this predominantly Muslim country of about 36 million people. Berber tribes used to know Christian message two millennia ago, yet today their closed boundaries make it difficult to communicate and teach them about Jesus.

Monday our prayer will uplift Albania, a small mountainous Balkan state on the Adriatic Sea, it only recently gained freedom from Communist oppression. The Adventist church is very small there, only 3 congregations exist. Over 60% of population is Muslim. Others are secular. The corruption in the emerging economy is rampant and past war crimes are fresh in need of reconciliation.

Finally, on Thursday we also will pray for the American Samoa, an archipelago where indigenous people had been more open to evangelical influence. 4% of population are Adventists. (given such proportions we should have about 18,000 Adventists here in London!)

As we begin this prayer experience, you see the diversity of spiritual experiences among countries. All these are God’s harvest field, for which the labourers are needed. Pray the Lord of the Harvest to make you a labourer!