Prayer is...

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  James 5:16


Prayer is...


an act of faith. Faith even the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, but many of us prefer the less spectacular and safer results that come from operating in our own strength. In a godless universe, the idea of prayer for the evangelization of the world is beyond absurd. Do we really believe that our prayers to an invisible God can and will change the hard hearts of tyrants, break down oppressive social and religious systems, and deliver fullness of life to those who suffer in abject hopelessness? If you believe the answer is yes...you should be praying.

an act of obedience. Our Lord instructs us to pray: as His servants, this should be the end of the matter! God commands His anointed ones to "Ask of Me and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance" (Ps. 2:8).  Psalm 2 echoes through the life of Jesus, in the book of Acts (4:24-31) and in Revelation (2:26-27). Israel's last great judge, Samuel, tells his people, "Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you" (1 Sam. 12:23). The apostle Paul instructs churches he planted to "pray without ceasing" and to "pray at all times" (1 Thess. 5:17 and Eph. 6:18). Praying for the nations can have significant personal consequences as well - for countless missionaries their first step on the path toward Christian service began with prayer and resulted in their obedient response to God calling them to be answers to their own prayers.

an act of worship. The imitation and adoration of Christ must necessarily include prayer, for His own life exemplified prayer. What is more, when we pray, we are recognizing the sovereignty of God as well as acknowledging our own helplessness. We put Him back on the throne of our own lives and of the world. Psalms 67 and 96 are resounding examples of the intricately bound nature of prayer, worship and mission.

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah
that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.
Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.
God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him. Psalm 67



Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.

Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it;

let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;

they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. Psalm 96

an act of warfare. When we seek to rescue unreached peoples and lost souls from the grip of the evil one, we must expect violent opposition in the heavenlies. The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church, but they must be stormed; they will not open of their own accord. It is no accident that the passage about the armor of God in Ephesians 6 ends with the exhortation to be "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication," (Eph. 6:18). Warfare has casualties, but we are not mere collateral damage. God is in control, yet at times He allows His people the honor of suffering the consequences of this war.

an act of sacrifice. As noted above, our choice to stand in the gap can have heavy consequences. But beyond the spiritual price that intercessors often pay, the simple choice to pray usually happens at the exclusion of something else in our lives. Often that something else is frivolous, but at times prayer must come at the expense of important things, such as our own work, our sleep or our time with loved ones. Busyness is an especially modern affliction, yet even 500 years ago Martin Luther understood this principle: "I have so much business, I cannot get on without spending three hours in prayer." Jesus retreated from perfectly legitimate ministry activities to seek intimacy with the Father. How can we do less?

an act of labor. Prayer is hard work! Anyone who has persevered in early morning or late night hours, in all-night vigils, even in seemingly interminable midweek prayer meetings knows the difficulty of sustaining a life of prayer. It does not come naturally to us as creatures of flesh and blood. As stated by Oswald Chambers, "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work."

an act of love. It is true that our love for unsaved family members, for non-Christian friends, for unreached peoples can drive us to prayer. But ultimately, prayer is the domain of God and it is impossible to be passionate about prayer if you are not already passionate for Him. Our engagement in faithful, overcoming intercession for the salvation of all peoples and the redemption of the world can be sustained only by a deep and unshakeable love for our Lord. After all, it is for His glory that we long to see the world changed through prayer.


Taken from the book Operation World.

Global Hot Spots

When we look at the world around us with all of its problems, we may often ask ourselves...what can we do?

We can Pray!

Every day, as Christians, we can spend some time praying. Prayer is:
- an act of faith
- an act of obedience
- an act of worship
- an act of warfare
- an act of sacrifice
- an act of labor
- an act of love

So, even though we may be many miles away from an area that needs prayer, we can learn about what is going on and pray daily.

One outstanding resource to use in praying for the world is Operation World. The publishers just came out with the 7th edition of this book. You can use it as a daily prayer resource and you can also go to their website Operation World for daily prayer guidance.

I want to share their list of Global Hot Spots and ask that you would pray regularly over these areas of the world. "Listed here are some of the critical international hot spots most likely to cause turmoil, conflict, suffering or even war in the coming years. These need to be covered in prayer.

1) The future of Jerusalem. The world's holiest city is probably also its most volatile flashpoint. Conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has resisted major international efforts to resolve it. The fundamental and seemingly irreconcilable differences between most Israelis and Arabs means that any outbreak of serious conflict can easily embroil neighboring countries - especially Lebanon and Syria, Many feel that such a war is almost inevitable. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

2) The Korean Peninsula is shared between an untenable, failing dictatorship and an affluent but nervous democracy. If or when reunification comes, the main questions are whether it will happen peacefully and at what cost rebuilding the North will occur. War would be disastrous for both sides.
Pray for peaceful reunification and freedom for North Koreans.

3) Somalia is a textbook example of a failed state; it is a broken land populated by warlords, pirates, an uprooted and exiled shambles of a government and a number of aggressive Islamist groups. The upheaval has spilled into the Horn of Africa and significantly affected marine traffic in the busy shipping lanes along its coast. Pray for peace to come to Somalia and for protection for its innocent citizens, especially the secret Christians.

4) Central Africa, while not the cauldron of anarchy it was in the 1990s, retains much of the upheaval and unrest of those dark times. Eastern DRC and northwest Uganda, in particular, still suffer from the predations of lawless militias. Pray for increased peace and an end to child abduction by the militias.

5) Afghanistan and Pakistan remain vulnerable to religious extremism. While the former has been stabilized significantly by heavy foreign presence, religious terrorism and violence have gripped Pakistan (Asia Bibi is one example) in the past decade. The porous mountain borders between the two countries offer the ideal location for the Taliban to persist with their radical Islamist agenda. Both remain among the world's most unstable and dangerous nations. Pray for peace and for religious freedom.

6) China's growing self-confidence and assertiveness seem less of a threat externally as it seeks to engage the world as a financial, rather than a military, power. However, its increasing global strength is not without its opponents - and victims. There are also increasing tensions with the Uyghur and Tibetan minorities, the looming demographic and economic fallout of a rapidly aging population resulting from the One Child Policy and the massive gender gap with a shortfall of millions of females. China also continues to be one of, if not the biggest, persecutor of Christians. Pray for Christianity to continue to sweep across China, transforming the country for Christ's glory.

7) Sudan's deep divide between north and south is currently spanned by an awkward truce after decades of conflict and civil war. The results of the 2011 referendum, just voted on last week (read more here), in the south regarding independence will bring profound consequences. Additionally, Darfur remains an unresolved tragedy. Literally millions are uprooted from these two regions, victims of Arabist, Islamist agendas on the part of the government of Khartoum. Pray for peace and protection for Sudan's citizens.

8) Iran is a regional power unto itself and the Shi'ite half of the West Asia/Middle East region. Its unbending stance on developing nuclear power and its notable influence in Iraq may put it on a collision course with other nations, particularly in the West. It also has its own internal stability issues and has stepped up persecution of the growing Christian church. Pray for freedom in Christ for the people of Iran.

9) The Himalayan region simmers with tension and division. The competing claims over Kashmir, the volatile nature of Nepal, the oppression of Tibet, the upheaval in Bangladesh and Northeast India and the opposition of India and Pakistan on many issues make this a potentially dangerous area - especially since the three main players are all nuclear powers. Pray for peace and the continued penetration of the Gospel within this region.

10) The Mexico-U.S. drug corridor is an area where the hedonistic excesses of American appetites effectively fund brutal wars between various drug cartels and government forces. Tensions from immigration issues further fuel the fire. Pray for peace and an end to the drug trade.

11) The West African fault line between Islam and Christianity has seen clashes, mob violence and civil war, especially in Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire. Religious differences are exacerbated and fueled by ethnic divisions. Pray for peace and the spread of Christianity.

12) A Southeast Asian corridor, from Myanmar through Thailand down to Malaysia and Indonesia, offers a range of potential flashpoints - the Burmese military junta's brutality, the widening socio-political chasm and possible military coup in Thailand, the Muslim unrest in Thailand's south and the continual threat of Islamism in Malaysia, Indonesia and Mindanao. Pray for peace in this region.

13) The Caucasus has long been a hotbed of ethnic violence, with the overlay of renewed Russian imperialism and deep religious divides. More radical and violent forms of Islam are beginning to assert themselves, and secessionist regions in the Russian Caucasus are displaying increasing boldness in pushing for autonomy. Pray for peace and wisdom for the governments in these regions and for the spread of Christianity.

14) Immigration into Europe is an unstoppable tide of humanity from Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe. The plunging birthrates in EU countries and the affluence, stability and generous social services in Europe are factors that pull in immigrants, many of who are coming from countries where conflict rages. While immigration is utterly necessary for the demographic and economic survival of Europe, the potential for resentment and violent backlash on the part of the native peoples of the EU is also strong. Postmodern secularism, Islam and Christianity must learn to co-exist or face a very turbulent future. Pray for peace and wisdom for EU governments as well as the salvation of immigrants.

Pray for Iran

IRAN - NEW WAVE OF PERSECUTION SUMMARY: Iranian Christian leaders are calling the Body of Christ worldwide to pray as a new wave of persecution sweeps through their nation.  Arrests that began December 26 have continued and officials warn more are imminent.

On December 26th Iranian security forces stepped up their efforts to eliminate the "corrupting" influence of Christianity by arresting 25 Christian Believers. Eleven were reportedly released after "intense questioning" and agreeing to sign statements promising not to participate in Christian activities. Fourteen remain in detention. In January 2011, more Christians were taken into custody. "Many further arrests have been reported in a number of areas." Estimates range as high as 60. "While some have been released, many remain detained." In the fall of 2010, police questioned the wife of an Iranian Believer. They released her under the condition that he speak to them. When the man turned himself in, "they tortured him continuously for three day." According to Smyrna Ministries International, the man's interrogators "hung him on a hook and beat him unconscious, revived him with water, and repeated the process." The man is now in hiding. Christians inside Iran are asking their Brothers and Sisters around the world to pray for those who have been arrested recently, as well as the untold numbers who are still being held captive from years past. Iran is number 2 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2011 of worst persecutors of Christians in the world. WIN partners pray for Iran on Day 8 of the Window International Network Praying Through the Window 9: Global Terrorism and World Religions prayer calendar. PRAY FOR: the Lord to be present with all the Christian Believers in Iran who have been arrested and are being detained and tortured. Ask Him to comfort and strengthen them, giving them the ability to love their persecutors. (The Bible, Psalm 121:7,8; Matthew 5:43,44) the Lord to encourage and provide for families who have had members taken into custody. Pray for them to be reminded that though they are experiencing tribulation, Jesus Christ has overcome the world. (The Bible, John 16:33) police and officials who are so zealous to rid Iran of Christians to be convicted by the Holy Spirit. Pray for their salvation. (The Bible, I Timothy 2:1-4) the spiritual awakening in Iran to continue. Pray for an awesome move of the Holy Spirit - especially among the youth. (The Bible, Acts 2:17) the stronghold of Shia Islam to be broken, the Church to grow, and for the Kingdom of God to come to Iran with glorious power. (The Bible, Matthew 16:18; I Corinthians 4:20) the Lord to reveal Himself in dreams and visions, and to perform marvelous wonders. Ask for multitudes to come into relationship with Christ in Iran. (The Bible, John 4:35) SOURCES: Middle East Concern, Mohobat News, Christian leaders in Iran, Smyrna Ministries International

Jesus' Beatitudes lived out today, part 2

The Sermon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 5:3-12

The Beatitudes...familiar words spoken by Jesus to many during His "Sermon on the Mount." I was reading this a few days ago and was struck by how these Beatitudes are being lived out today, by Christians, all over the world. In the last post, I looked at the first four Beatitudes. You can read about them at Jesus' Beatitudes Lived Out Today Today, I would like to finish with the last few.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy - compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence...to show mercy, to forgive someone when they do not deserve it. There are many examples of Christians showing mercy toward their enemies.

One that stands out in my mind is of a Christian man named Ron Carlson  He became known when he forgave the heinous murder of his sister, Deborah Carlson, by a woman named Karla Fay Tucker. Karla Fay Tucker became famous when she was executed in 1998 in Texas. Years before her execution, she had become a Christian in prison. Ron chose to forgive her. With that forgiveness, God showed him mercy by removing the bitterness and rage that accompanies unforgiveness. When I viewed the TV coverage of the days leading up to the execution, what stood out in my mind was the peace that showed on the face of Ron Carlson. This peace was in stark contrast to the anger, bitterness and rage that showed on the faces of the other victim's family members. When Christians show mercy and forgiveness, God will in turn forgive them.  

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
To be pure in heart - not to be tainted by this world but to be filled with faith and hope.

As a mother, I believe children exemplify this beatitude so well. They are freshly aware of God's presence in so many aspects of this life..from a tiny flower to a buzzing bee to a beautiful sunset. They are eager for His return and talk of going to Heaven to be with Him. Why is it that we hush them when they speak of going to Heaven? Isn't that what we are all to be longing for...to be in Heaven with our Lord?

Children, pure in heart in many ways, see God daily. Maybe that is why Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.  Mark 10:15-16

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
We are all called to be peacemakers for we follow the "Prince of Peace." Two men who stand out in my mind as peacemakers are President Ronald Reagan and President Nelson Mandela. While I am fairly familiar with Reagan's past, I am not as familiar with Mandela's past. I do know that both men were/are sinners in need of God's grace and both men made mistakes. However, both men also strove for peace...Reagan for peace between American and Russia and Mandela for peace between black and white within South Africa. And God honored their desire and strivings for peace in mighty ways. 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The persecuted church...my heart goes out to them. They exist in every part of the world and their faith is strong! They are the Christians meeting secretly in a Laotian home church, the widow mourning the loss of her husband to the Columbian FARC but still maintaining his ministry, the young Muslim girl standing for Christ in the face of family beatings...so many more. Voice of the Martyrs is just one organization who tells their story and helps them.

The strength and growth of the church in these lands is primarily due to persecution: China, India, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Korea, Vietnam, Iran and Myanmar. There are many more. Praise God for His servants who literally carry His cross every day. 

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. May we remember these words of our Lord and Savior. The life of a Christian is not easy and it's not popular. We are called to love the unlovable, to do good to our enemies, to sell our possessions and give to the poor, to pray without ceasing, to put others before ourselves and to live so that others will want to follow our Lord Jesus.

Holy Spirit, please help us to live out our Lord's Beatitudes each and every day!

Muslims stand as "human shields" to protect Coptic Christians

Thousands Of Egyptian Muslims Show Up As ‘Human Shields’ To Defend Coptic Christians From Terrorism

On New Year’s Day, a devastating terrorist bombing at a Coptic church in Egypt killed 21 people and injured 79 others. Although the identity of the culprits was not known, it was assumed that they were Muslim extremists, intent on targeting those they saw as heretics. Religious tensions immediately rose in the country, and angry Copts stormed streets, battled with police, and even vandalized a nearby mosque. The riots and heightened tensions between the Muslim and Coptic communities was likely what the terrorists wanted — to divide the Egyptian community and create sectarian strife between different religious groups.

Yet by Coptic Christmas Eve, which took place Thursday night in Egypt, things had changed completely. As Egyptian Copts attended mass at churches across the country, “thousands” of Muslims, including “the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak,” joined them, acting as “human shields” to protect from terrorist attacks by extremists. The Muslims organized under the slogan “We either live together, or we die together,” inspired by Mohamed El-Sawy, an Egyptian artist:

Egypt’s majority Muslim population stuck to its word Thursday night. What had been a promise of solidarity to the weary Coptic community, was honoured, when thousands of Muslims showed up at Coptic Christmas eve mass services in churches around the country and at candle light vigils held outside. From the well-known to the unknown, Muslims had offered their bodies as “human shields” for last night’s mass, making a pledge to collectively fight the threat of Islamic militants and towards an Egypt free from sectarian strife.
“We either live together, or we die together,” was the sloganeering genius of Mohamed El-Sawy, a Muslim arts tycoon whose cultural centre distributed flyers at churches in Cairo Thursday night, and who has been credited with first floating the “human shield” idea. Among those shields were movie stars Adel Imam and Yousra, popular preacher Amr Khaled, the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak, and thousands of citizens who have said they consider the attack one on Egypt as a whole. “This is not about us and them,” said Dalia Mustafa, a student who attended mass at Virgin Mary Church on Maraashly. “We are one. This was an attack on Egypt as a whole, and I am standing with the Copts because the only way things will change in this country is if we come together.”

Al Jazeera English covered the attacks and reported from the site of one of the solidarity events where Muslims and Christians stood side by side, protesting discrimination against Copts and calling for an end to violence. 

It is a frequent complaint among opinion makers in the United States that the global Muslim community does not condemn and prevent terrorism. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has even said that Islam needs a civil war similar to the one the United States fought in order to deal with its extremists. But the truth is that moderate and progressive Muslims all over the world are battling extremism. Here in the United States, one-third of al-Qaeda related terror plots have been broken up thanks to intelligence provided by Muslim Americans. It is up to the press to report these positive stories and not exaggerate the sway that extremists hold over the global Muslim community.

This story appeared here on January 8th. What an encouraging report! 

Jesus' Beatitudes lived out today

The Sermon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 5:3-12



The Beatitudes...familiar words spoken by Jesus to many during His "Sermon on the Mount." I was reading this a few days ago and was struck by how these Beatitudes are being lived out today, by Christians, all over the world. I'd like to take each Beatitude and give an example of what I mean.

To begin with, "Beatitude" means "blessed, a state of supreme happiness." Jesus was saying that those who fit these character descriptions would be happy, envied by others, spiritually prosperous, with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions. Jesus is not talking about being blessed the way many people use that term today. It's not about physical or monetary blessings but about spiritual and mental blessings...peace, joy, happiness, satisfaction. These are things that money can not purchase and can be found in abundance even in the most austere locations, for those who live according to the Lord's will.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
To be "poor in spirit" means to be humble, to rate yourself as insignificant (Amplified Bible).
I believe a good example of this Beatitude lived out is Auntie Katie...the young female missionary to Uganda I have shared about; see Katie from Uganda. Here is a young, beautiful girl from a well-off American family, leaving behind everything that this world calls a blessing. Her days are spent caring for  the 13 Ugandan girls she has adopted plus the countless number of people who come to her with great needs. From removing parasites to nursing a dying child to holding a young woman suffering from AIDS, Katie has humbled herself to serve those in need. And she is blessed! Just read her blog and you will see the incredible spiritual blessings the Lord gives to the humble.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Colombian guerrillas killed her husband for spreading the gospel but Luz is not defeated. Instead she is joyful in the Lord. This is one of many such testimonies...testimonies to how God can bring joy to believers amongst horrific situations. Jesus can bring joy from mourning!
Watch joyful widow to see the story of Luz.


Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Meekness is a word that has lost it's true meaning over time. Today, many people think of meek people as being weak, ineffective, afraid. But that is not the original meaning of the word. Originally the word "meek" comes from the Greek word Praus which mean gentle strength. Jesus was meek as He was the God of the Universe and was able to do anything, but He was humble about it. He was completely confident in all His power, but He wasn't arrogant about it.

This type of meekness is often seen in Godly, Christian fathers. Men who are strong in so many ways, yet gentle with their children and their wives...loving them as Christ loved the Church. Men who follow in the footsteps of Christ will practice this type of meekness. Their gentle strength and humility will draw their family and others to Christ.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Gospel for Asia missionary Hirla and his family are committed to Christ, hungering after Him for themselves and those who have never heard His name in North India, a place where very few Christians live. He has opened his home to a house church, is a speaker for GFA radio, he and his wife meet their neighbors' physical needs, and they have five Bible college students living with them...all while raising five children.

You can see their story at They Pour Out Their Lives


I will continue with the rest of Jesus' Beatitudes and how they are lived on today in the next post.

Sudan needs our prayers tomorrow

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Tomorrow, the country of Sudan will vote on whether to remain one country or split into two. The mainly Christian South favors. There have been many threats of violence from militant Muslim groups if the vote is for separation. Please pray for them. 

WE PRAY FOR:

• every knee to bow and every tongue confess throughout Sudan that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father. (The Bible, Philippians 2:10,11)
• the Christian Believers in Sudan to overcome satan by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimony, not loving their lives to the death. (The Bible, Revelation 12:11)
• unity in the Body of Christ in Sudan. Pray for Christian leaders to work and pray together, and for Believers to encourage and support each other.
• divine boundaries and borders to be established. Pray for the laws of the Kingdom of God to govern all activities within Sudan - North and South. (The Bible, I Chronicles 4:10; Psalm 147:14; Matthew 6:10)
• evil plans by the Muslim Brotherhood (violence) and President Omar al-Bashir (Shari'a law) to be overthrown by the Commander of the Army of the Lord. Pray for every person to know that the Lord God Almighty has fought on behalf of Sudan. (The Bible, Matthew 16:19, Joshua 5:13)
• the King of glory - Jehovah-Gibbor - to "contend with those who contend with" Christian Believers in Sudan. (The Bible, Psalm 24:8; Psalm 35:1)
• the Lord to expose the lies of the enemy and lift the false burdens of heaviness and oppression from Christians in Sudan. Pray for the Lord to sustain them. (The Bible, Psalm 12:5; Psalm 3:5)
• the Lord to give President Salva Kiir (South) wisdom in directing the people under his authority. Ask for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct his administration.
• the spirits of confusion, violence, chaos and panic to be bound. Ask the Lord to release peace, hope, joy and love in Sudan. Petition the Lord to remind Christians of their spiritual authority against satanic plots, ploys and strategies - that greater is He who lives in the Christians in Sudan than any evil force who stands against them. Pray for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit on this nation. (The Bible, Matthew 16:19; I John 4:4; Acts 2:17)
• the Lord to send His warring angels to protect Christians in Sudan and to solidly defeat all demonic forces coming against them.(The Bible, Psalm 27 and Psalm 91)
• the Lord to send His terror against evil men and women who are doing satan's will. Ask the Lord to send His whip from heaven to stop all evildoers. Let the fear of Jehovah fall upon the land of Sudan(The Bible, Psalm 9:20; Isaiah 10:26; Psalm 96:4)
• demonic and satanic plots to be aborted. Pray for every attempt to steal, kill and destroy to fail.(The Bible, John 10:10)
• the Lord to post watchmen who will take their positions on the wall day and night, giving Him no rest until Sudan becomes a nation that turns away from all gods and serves the Living Christ. (The Bible, Isaiah 62:5-7)
• the abundant life of Jesus Christ to reach every part of Sudan. Pray for multitudes of Muslims to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (The Bible, John 10:10; I Timothy 2:1-4)

SOURCES: "Rules of Engagement" (Cindy Trimm, 2008).

China's new "Third Church" growth

"Third Church" meeting in Beijing

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  Matthew 16:18



My heart was first drawn to the persecuted church and missions because of our adoption of Grace from China. China continues to burden my heart. It was wonderful to read the below article today, from
CBN News about the growth of the Christian church in China's cities.




'Third Church' China's New Face of Christianity

By George Thomas
CBN News Sr. Reporter
Tuesday, January 04, 2011

 
BEIJING - Christianity in China began decades ago in the countryside, but today, a dramatic shift is happening. Young professionals in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai are changing the face of Chinese Christianity, as faith moves from rural to more urban areas.

On a recent Wednesday evening, a group of men and women in their late 20s met in an apartment not too far from the city center to discuss how to thrive in their rapidly changing nation. Those who attended are members of China's new privileged class -- highly educated, cosmopolitan, middle or even upper class of urban professionals. And they're all Christians.

"We've never had it so good in China today," Jia Li Tian, a member of the group, told CBN News. "But there's more to life that just money and materialism."

Pressures to Succeed

Jia works for one of Beijing's largest tour operators. Like young urban professionals in other parts of the world, he and his peers live in high-rise apartment buildings. They own a car - sometimes two. They are tech savvy. They travel. They have money to spend. But the pressure to succeed and thrive is fierce.

"The competition for jobs in the big cities is intense," said Zhou Jie, a Spanish translator who works in Beijing.

"Status is everything," said 23-year-old Liu Yi Zhuo, a business consultant for one of China's biggest oil companies. "How much you make. How big is your apartment. What kind of car you drive. This is what people focus on."

"The government makes it possible for us to earn money and have a good life," Jia added. "But how do we handle all these pressures? The government doesn't have answers for this."

Filling the Spiritual Vacuum

But religion is filling a void within this rapidly-changing Chinese society. "I'm different person today," graphic designer Zhu Kun said over a cup of coffee. The 23-year-old is one of the many city residents who are now embracing Christianity in record numbers.

"The last couple of years have been difficult for me," Zhu said. "I've struggled professionally and personally. But then someone introduced me to Jesus and now I have a different outlook on my life."

Jesus in the Office

Zhu worships at Shou Wang, one of the largest unregistered or "underground" churches in Beijing. Jin Tian Ming leads the church. "God called me to start a church to reach these young people with the Gospel," Jin said.

Jin, who himself is a graduate of China's most prestigious university, began the Shou Wang church 18 years ago with 10 people. Now, close to 1,000 attend his weekly service. "The majority of them have graduated from college and work in the city," he explained. "We have lawyers, professors, doctors, business people."

Jin added that similar gatherings are springing up in other big cities, attracting the white collar working world. "They are looking for ways to handle the dramatic changes in China, and they are finding answers in Christianity," he said.

New Face of Christianity

Jia Lin Tian helps run a Bible study for new converts in the city. He says this is the new face of Christianity in China. Such believers are part of what some are calling China's "Third Church."

Peter, not his real name, has worked with China's underground churches for decades. CBN News agreed to conceal his identity to protect him. "They are called the 'Third Church' because they are very different than what used to be the only two real kinds of churches in China," Peter said. "The registered church -- registered with the government -- and then the unregistered churches, usually called house churches which thrived in the countryside in the 70s and 80s."

"But then after the 1989 (Tiananmen) demonstrations, these urban, educated, well-to-do Christians started forming urban churches," he continued.

'Third Church' Growth

Although Christianity continues to grow in China's countryside, experts say it's in big cities like Beijing where the church is growing fastest. "Whereas the rural church was not able to have an impact on society as a whole, the 'Third Church' in the cities is able to do that because they are comprised of leaders who can have an impact," Peter explained. "[They are] businessmen, government officials, professors, leaders in engineering, every aspect of life."

Pastor Jin's congregation is technically an illegal gathering. He hasn't registered his church with the government, nor is it part of any of the state-sanctioned churches. But rather than hide from authorities, Jin and others who lead such congregations in big cities say they want to work with the government officials.

Moving Past Persecution

The Chinese government has always maintained a tight grip on religion. Torture, arrests, imprisonment, and beatings of Christians are still practiced in the country. But in recent years, authorities have made positive overtures towards house church leaders -- especially those in urban areas.

"The church in China is growing and Christianity is becoming more and more a part of mainstream society," Jin said. "The authorities know this and they are showing a willingness to work with us." And young, urban believers are welcoming the gesture as they use faith to navigate the opportunities and challenges of China today.

What do we do with evil?

For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. Lamentations 3:33

"You have seen, O Lord, the wrong done to me. Uphold my cause!" Lamentations 3:59

Persecution of Christians, AIDS, orphans, sexual trafficking, cancer, genocide, terrorist attacks, divorce...the horrors and atrocities of this world seem to be without end. Where is the hope? Where is the justice? Where is the solution? Who do we blame? Who do we appeal to for help? Will good ever come?

These are questions all of us ask regularly, especially when faced with the sadness and evil in this life. How we answer these questions makes a world of difference in what actions we will take and what mindset we will embrace.

David of Bible times, after defeating Goliath, now faced an even greater foe...King Saul. Jealous of David, Saul pursued him for years, trying to kill him. When a priest sheltered David, Saul found out and had the priest, along with 84 other Jewish priests, slaughtered (1 Samuel 22:6-23). David discovered this and felt incredible horror. He must have asked himself these very questions.

David's response is a model for all of us when faced with horror and tragedy.

1) He placed blame where it should have been: on Saul and on evil. We need to remember this as well. "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." 1 John 1:5 God is not the author of evil and destruction...Satan is. But praise God, when Satan "intended to harm me...God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," John 10:10

2) He reminded himself that God will repay evil. David wrote Psalm 52 about this very incident...the killing of the priests. In Psalm 52:5 he says: "Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living." Satan will not get away with destroying human life forever. There will be justice because "the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18


3) He placed his hope solely in God. "I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope," Psalm 52:9. God is still on His throne no matter what Satan does. Our only hope is in God. Not in government, not in ourselves, not in others, not in medicine or the military or money...only in God.

4) He reminded himself that God is good!  "for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints," Psalm 52:9. No matter how bad things look, God is good. He is good all the time and He longs to be good to us. His love for us is immeasurable. We need to rest in that truth. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations, Psalm 100:5.

"In the face of unimaginable horror, we must cast our imaginations on Christ, our only hope. His Word will be our anchor when our faith is tossed like the waves," Beth Moore (Bible study author and leader).