Pray for South Africa, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka

We continue praying for the world.  Today and tomorrow we lift in prayers South Africa, a country where racial segregation “apartheid” ended officially only in 1994 and reconciliation efforts are ongoing.  Even churches are divided in3 categories: white, black and colored.  Pray for Christians to allow Spiritual transformation of love to unite all.  Last Friday, July 18 all nations celebrated Nelson Mandela birthday.  At 94, after serving 27 years in prison, he exemplified the spirit of non-compromise standing for what is right and then leading the country in peaceful resolution.  Current need is for the crime rate to subside. Currently violent crimes are 7 times higher than in USA.  AIDS epidemic has claimed 20% of population and 1/3 of teachers are affected. Pray for the young generation to seek truth and stay faithful to God.

Monday we lift in prayer Solomon Islands, depressed by the civil war 1998-2001, and then hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami in April 2007, the small nation needs economic restoration.  During the Second World War entire villages became Seventh-day Adventists due to the healing ministry provided to both warring sides.  Pray that the ministry of healing will continue bringing people to Christ.

Tuesday we lift in prayer Somalia, considered the poorest and most violent state in the world.  Since 1991 civil war and collapse of Socialist regime there has been no centralized government or authority, warlords fight for regional autonomy, pirates are hunting ships at sea.  UN withdrew in 1995 and no humanitarian mission had served this region since.   Entire population is Muslim and under Shari’a law. No missionaries are present and conversions are forbidden.  There is no Adventist presence there.  Pray for order, peace, and freedom to witness to come.

Wednesday and Thursday we lift in prayer Spain.  Former empire got rich from its colonies, but over the past century through civil war, dictatorship and terrorist activities of Basque separatists its economy is struggling and needed bailouts by European Union.  Majority of population are Catholics and prior to 1975 evangelical believers were persecuted.  Today most are secular and disenchanted with church.  Islamic presence is growing stronger through immigration from North Africa.  Yet the general attitudes are demoralized – 1% of  population are drug addicts, AIDS are the highest per capita among European countries, island of Ibiza is known as the immoral parties capital.  Pray for revival of spirituality in Spain.

Friday we lift in prayer Sri Lanka, former Ceylon island south of India.  It is less evangelized than India, and majority of population are Buddhist.  Continuing infighting between ethnic Sinhalese and Tamils makes Christian mission difficult, and both major groups remain unreached by the Gospel.  Beneath the layers of Buddhism and Hinduism lie an ancient cocktail of spirits, gods and demons.  Pray for deliverance, for protection of Christian pastors and church leaders.  And also pray for the outreach to Tamil immigrants in Western countries, in Canada to share the Gospel with their families.

Pray for Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, San Marino, Sao Tome & Principe

We continue praying for the world, and this week we have a line-up of unique countries.  Today – Senegal, a “most western” country in Africa, yet here Muslim presence is growing fastest in the past 100 years – from 45% to 95%.  Most of the population belong to three powerful Muslim groups. The Mourinde Muslims operate like a separate country and have strong trade links around the world. In every village Muslim leaders have a significant influence over all aspects of life, and few people would make decisions without consulting their towns marabouts (holy men).  Pray for religious freedom for Christian witness.  Also pray for safety and peace as violent clashes in the southern Casamance region between the army and rebels who want the area to be independent from Senegal continue.  25% of population live in capital Dakar.  Pray for city mission and Christian ministries to emerge.

Tomorrow we pray for Serbia, an independent from Yugoslavia since 2006 it was engulfed in ethnic civilian war since inception. Formerly Serbs were majority and ruling group in Yugoslavia, and were the last to let go, fighting Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo.  They also suffered from NATO bombings. Pray for forgiveness and reconciliation and ending of religious hatred.

Monday we pray for Seychelles, 115 islands east of Africa in the Indian Ocean.  Tourism is its major industry and since its independence in 1976 the country has been rising as the highest developed in Africa, even as it has the smallest population.  Adventist presence is about 1%.  Pray that spiritual revival would be consistent, that materialism will not blind people from seeking God.

Tuesday we lift in prayer Sierra Leone, first African country evangelised, as it was founded by Britain in 1787 for returning freed slaves. Yet today 70% of people are Muslim. In recent decades its population got involved in military conflicts and thousands of child-soldiers were taken from families. Pray for growing in Christ and freedom from superstition and occult in this nation.

Wednesday we pray for Singapore, a country that is actually one big city with about 5 million of people.  Extremely wealthy (3^rd in the world by GDP per capita!) it is a strategic banking and financing centre in Asia.  The city is culturally diverse with 24 languages of which 4 are official.  It is an important base for sending missionaries, and 35% of students here are Christian, more than in any other country.  However the affluence is a stumbling block for spiritual growth.  Pray for sincere seekers and for missionaries to know how to introduce Christ.

Thursday we pray for San Marino, a small city state (31,000 people) in the Northern Italy.  Catholic dominance forbids evangelical witness by jailing and expelling.  There are few Waldensian believers, few JWs, and no Adventists.  Pray for openness among people and search for truth.

Friday we pray for Sao Tome & Principe, islands west of Gabon near cost of Africa. It is a second smallest African country after Seychelles.  Formerly Portuguese colony, majority are Catholic, but morality is far from Christian.  Statistics show 90% of children are born out of wedlock, especially island of Principe needs Christian witness and mission.

Pray for Saudi Arabia, St.Pierre & Miquelon, St.Vincent, Samoa, Slovakia, Slovenia, St.Martin

Today and tomorrow we pray for two countries where no Adventists are present yet.  Saudi Arabia – a birthplace of Islam, and most recently of Wahhabism  - the most radical militant and conservative branch of Islam. 12^th largest territory in the world, it is a kingdom run by Saudi family, contains 25% of world’s oil reserves, hence the economic influence. Saudi Arabia’s record on religious freedom and human rights is notorious and probably the world’s worst. Abuses occur through a corrupt judicial system and through aggressive and ubiquitous religious police (mutaween) who operate with minimal accountability and the government’s acquiescence.  Pray for freedom of faith and witness.

Tomorrow we pray for Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a self-governing territorial collectivity of France, located near Canada, southern coast of Newfoundland, near the Grand Banks.  It is the only remnant of the former colonies that remains under French control.  Predominantly Catholic it only recently received Evangelical fellowship.  A Baptist church opened up in 1998.  Pray for an Adventist mission work to reach the island.

On Monday we will lift St. Vincent & Grenadine islands in the Caribbean. Seventh-day Adventists are the second largest religious community after Anglican church there. Pray for integrity of leadership and transformational influence of the church on society.

Tuesday we lift in prayer Samoa, where Christianity entered a century ago.  Initially this island was sending missionaries to other Pacific islands.  Now, the rivalry between denominations turned churches inward and the fastest growing is the Mormon church.  Adventists are 6^th in size and significance.  Pray for true Gospel to shine forth, and for truth seekers.

Wednesday & Thursday we lift in prayer two countries that are very similar: Slovakia, an independent state since 1993 after split with Czech, and Slovenia, independent from Yugoslavia since 1991.  Great need is for economy to pick up and for the youth to have opportunities.  The dominant faiths are Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran.  Pray for the developing evangelical community and for growing Adventist presence. Jehovah Witnesses have the largest presence after main-line churches, and make difficult sharing Three Angels Message.   Pray for the quality of spiritual life and for fervour in evangelical churches.

Friday we lift in prayer French Saint Martin, a north part of Dutch Sint Maarten. Main need is unity among churches and spiritual revival of believers.

Pray for Russia, Reunion, Rwanda, St.Barthelemy, St.Helena, St.Kitts & Nevis, St.Lucia

Today we complete week of prayer for Russia.  A special focus is on Islamist republics within the federation where religious freedom is oppressed and evangelical Christian churches are often persecuted.  Pray also for acceptance of simple Gospel and openness for seeking truth among traditional Russian orthodox population, which sees the religion as a part of culture and ethnic identity.  Many migrants from Central Asia work in Russia.  Pray for Christians to show Christ’s love to them and witness in the face of racism. Increasing gap between impoverished and rich also negatively affects the Gospel work.  Pray for social justice in Russia.

On Sunday we lift in prayer a small island of St. Barthelemy with only 9,300 population.  Once a Swedish colony (the only one in Caribbean), today it is French territory, located between Puerto Rico & St.Kitts.  It’s population is 95% white Caucasian, and are established in wealth.  A playground for rich and famous, beachfront villas going at price of 80 million, and over 200,000 tourists, it is a tough place for mission work.  Pray for missional outreach of churches

Monday we lift in prayer Reunion, an island east of Madagascar.  Island was populated only since 17^th century by French settlers and their slaves. 80% of people claim to be Catholics, but in reality 90% are involved with a Malabar religion – a mixture of Hinduism and witchcraft. Pray that people’s hearts and eyes will be opened to who Jesus is. The Creole population, former slaves are still the ‘underclass’. Poorer than Europeans and Asians, they also suffer higher rates of unemployment and alcoholism.  Pray for church to be place of social justice.

Tuesday we will pray for Rwanda.  Tutsi tribe (minority) have been politically powerful in Rwanda for over 500 years and were overthrown by a Hutu tribal revolt in 1959. Extreme tension and violence between Hutu and Tutsi came to a head in 1994 when Hutu extremists carried out a planned mass genocide of Tutsi. In only 100 days 800,000 people died and over a million fled the country and became refugees. Pray for reconciliation, especially among Christians.  A major concern is also an estimated 11% of the population who are HIV positive.

Wednesday we pray for St.Helena, an isolated island in Atlantic between Brasil and Africa.  There are lack of jobs and families are affected as many are forced to work on British military bases as far as Falklands.

Thursday we lift in prayer two islands, a federation of St.Kitts & Nevis.  North Leeward islands close to Aruba they are vastly different.  First has a reputation for drug trafficking and money laundering for criminals, whereas the second has the highest percentage of church goers!  These were first European colonies in West Indies.  Both need revival, where teen pregnancies out of wedlock are high, and half of households are led by a single mother.  Pray for the church to be the stronghold of family values and truth.

Friday we pray for Saint Lucia, known as the most beautiful island of the Caribbean.  First settled by French (80% still speak French creole) then English the island is autonomous today.  High influence is held by the Catholic church (70%)   The very next church by size is the Seventh-day Adventist (8%).  Pray for church witness to be the source of righteousness and revival.  The main prayer request is restoration of family values., for the Word to be practiced and applied in lives of believers.