27.

Nepal (1)

29. Nepal (2)

According to the Nepali Police, the suicide rate

has shot up by more than 40% the earthquake
in April. People who have lost loved ones,
homes and livelihoods are still traumatised and
need specialist psychological and spiritual care.
Very often these people are the poorest of the
poor, living in remote village locations. People
involved in the rescue efforts have also had
troubling experiences and need help to come to
terms with them. Organisations like the Elijah
Counselling and Training Centre in Kathmandu,
are stepping up their work. Initially they focused
on spreading knowledge to alleviate anxiety, but
they are also training more counsellors to
provide support, enabling people to cope over
the long-term. Please pray that those who need
psychological help will get the care they need.
(International Nepal Fellowship)

The political situation in Nepal is currently very

unpredictable in the wake of the countrys new
constitution and the threat of religious extremist
action is on the increase. The new constitution
has sparked protests in the country's southern
plains bordering India and this instability is
making things difficult for agencies wanting to
work with local partners in reconstruction
following the earthquakes. Pray for peace in
Nepal. Radio continues to be a lifeline in remote
Nepali communities and the ninth Christian
community radio station is in the process of
being planted; please pray that people will be
connected to each other and to the Lord
through the broadcasts. (Reach Beyond)

28. Sri Lanka

Pray for people affected by leprosy in Sri Lanka:
that new incidences of leprosy will be detected
early and that the conflict disrupting leprosy
services will cease. Give thanks for TLMs
relationships with partner organisations Kaveri
Kala Manram (KKM) and the Alliance
Development Trust and pray that they will
continue to flourish. Pray that the Mobilising
Communities project with the government antileprosy campaign will be effective in reducing
stigma and providing community-based
rehabilitation (such as livelihood development,
safe water provision, self-care, and
empowerment) to 40 leprosy-affected
communities in the Mannar and Jaffna Districts.
Pray that KKMs vision for community selfsustainability through cultivation of a coconut
plantation and using the abundant natural
resources of the land will be realised. This will
provide funds for their work with communities
affected by leprosy. (The Leprosy Mission)

November December 2015

30. Kazakhstan
WhatsApp is not only great for communication,
but is being used for daily Bible study. Each
person in the WhatsApp group reads the same
chapter during the day, then at 10pm they
discuss it for half an hour as a group using
WhatsApp. This is helping many to read the
Bible in a fresh way. Pray for the truth of Gods
Word to sink deep and bear fruit in the lives of
many. (WEC International)
31. India
A listener writes: One year ago while tuning in
my radio to listen to film songs, I unexpectedly
tuned into your Punjabi programme Pyar Di
Bhet (Offering of Love). I started tuning in daily
and have since heard many different songs and
learnt good teaching. I am writing to you for the
first time and hope you will write back and send
me a programme guide you offered free in your
programme. I am not a Christian but I now
follow what you talk of in your programmes. I
will also like to contact you by phone." Pray for
the impact of Christian broadcasts into India
and for effective follow-up to correspondence.
(Reach Beyond)

www.globalconnections.org.uk/prayer
worldprayernews
@worldprayernews

Working together with God - Gods purposes, not our plans

How do we bring together these two thoughts?
So often God works out his own purposes while
we are busy meeting to set up a committee and
work out a mission strategy, using the talents
He has given us. Perhaps together but not the
same is the key.
I remember a Christian woman who shared her
faith with a neighbour to no avail. The Christian
lady then went through some ten years of sad
experiences, losing a child, miscarriages and
several other ordeals. Then one day the
neighbour came round to see her I have
watched how you have coped and I want to
know your God. Those working in creative
access countries have many similar
experiences, not able to speak openly about
Christ but witnessing to Him though their lives.
Several of our member mission agencies tell
stories not just of refugees being helped but of
people coming to Christ, at a time when one
might have expected safety, food, and shelter to
be their main concerns. Jesus said I have
come that they may have life, and have it to the
full (John 10:10) so of course their needs are
far more than food and shelter.

feeling quite close to them and caring that they

are part of the Lords ever expanding Kingdom.
Perhaps some of you were inspired to hear in
the summer from David Garrison, of so many
Muslims coming to Christ this century again
God at work, so often without us but wanting us
to share in His mission.
Just as Jesus told his disciples, As you go,
proclaim this message: The kingdom of heaven
has come near, (Matthew 10:7) so may we do
likewise in our words and deeds, inspired partly
through our daily prayer for others, encouraged
by good news of people becoming Christians
and always working with God .
In Ephesians 4:16 Paul writes, From him the
whole body, joined and held together by every
supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work. Lets joyfully
play our part in Gods work of bringing people
from every tribe, nation and tongue into his
kingdom.
Ann Bower
Global Connections

I love to have the privilege of praying for so

many people in World Prayer News and in
many mission prayer diaries - people who are
generally quite unknown to me, in places I have
never seen and yet somehow through prayer,

Vol 60 No 6

Editor: Paul Tuckwell

Hon. Editor: Martin Lee

The annual cost including postage for copies sent to the same address:
One copy per issue 5.00 UK only
8.00 Europe
12.00 Rest of world
All subscriptions should be addressed to:
Global Connections, Caswell Road, Leamington Spa, CV31 1QD
Telephone: 01926 487755 Email: info@globalconnections.org.uk
Registered in England & Wales as Evangelical Mission Association.
Company number 3886596. Charity number 1081966

22. China

24. Thailand

With China Mobile now covering more than

99.99% of the country, internet access is
widespread in China and many have turned to
their smartphones to access Bibles. Religious
material uploaded within China is often more
readily available to access than that uploaded
outside the country and many of Chinas
Christian smartphone users have made use of
the web to access Gods Word. The authorities
however watch the net-users closely and
President Xi Jinping is leading one of the
harshest Internet crackdowns in recent
memory. Authorities report investigating 7,400
criminal cases of cyber crime in the last 6
months, targeting users who might, among
other things, be looking at illegal and harmful
information, including Christian material. Some
66,000 websites have already been
investigated and 15,000 people arrested for an
array of suspected internet crimes. Pray that the
Lord would continue to build His Church.
(AsiaLink)

Over 95% of Thailands people are Buddhist,

albeit from different traditions. The next largest
faith group is Muslim, with Christians only
comprising approximately 1% of the population.
The Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT)
represents about half of the Protestant
community and is actively involved in church
planting, evangelism, education, and health
ministries. Pray for the new leadership of CCT,
that they may lead with wisdom and that God
may use them increasingly to reach the Thai
Buddhist community. Pray too for BMS workers
and for the ministries they lead. (BMS)

23. Vietnam
In Vietnam there are many Christian training
programmes. Most are delivered in a foreign
language through a translator and are one-off
affairs. Participants sometimes attempt to apply
what they have learnt, but when they meet
challenges they do not know what to do, so
often their attempts are halted. Thus each
training programme becomes an addition to
previous training, without bearing much fruit.
Vietnam needs people who can mentor new
believers and have a good understanding of the
language and culture. Sharing the gospel is still
a need, but follow up is also vital to help
believers grow in the faith. The goal should not
be to run a one-off training course but to walk
alongside believers and mentor them as they
grow to maturity. (OMF)

25. Japan
Many Japanese Christians have non-Christian
spouses. Pray that they would remain true to
their faith and that God would also give them a
strong desire for the salvation of their spouse.
Pray that churches would be more aware of this
challenge and would find good ways to support
people in this situation, seeing the great
opportunity to reach husbands and wives
through their Christian spouse. (Japan Christian
Link)
26. Malaysia
A new office has been opened in Malacca, on
the southwestern coast of peninsular Malaysia.
Malacca was the first town in southeast Asia
visited by missionaries in the 16th century, the
first Chinese Bible was printed in Malacca and
taken into China by missionaries, and there is a
prophecy that Malacca will once again assume
a prominent role in world missions. Pray for the
team leaders, that they might know Gods
strength, grace and wisdom in their work and
for the first ever missionary from the churches
in Malacca sent to the field. (WEC International)

17. Colombia
Many people on the Atlantic coast of Colombia
are displaced as a result of the decades of civil
unrest relating to the drugs wars. They were
forced to leave their communities at short notice
and start a whole new life from scratch. Many of
the children are victims of sexual and physical
abuse and live in extreme poverty. Vive Kids, in
partnership with Latin Link, is working with
churches in poor areas to disciple children in
their communities, providing them with the hope
of Jesus in the midst of their suffering. Pray that
through the work of Vive Kids and others, this
next generation in north Colombia will grow up
to live productive lives and break the chains of
injustice, poverty and abuse that surround
them. (Latin Link)
18. Brazil
Players of Hope are solar-powered MP3
players, preloaded with the entire Bible, a series
of Bible studies and gospel programmes,
childrens programming, indigenous worship
music and educational programmes on
community and health topics. 500 Players of
Hope have just been distributed among 28
communities along the Amazon Basin in Brazil
and missionaries there are being trained how to
make new audio material for the devices. These
communities are very open to learning more
about the gospel so please pray for engaging
material and for God to send more missionaries
to teach local people how to produce their own
audio content. (Reach Beyond)
19. Guatemala
Domestic abuse and violence against children
and young people is prevalent in Central
America with thousands killed by family
members each year or forced onto the streets.
Its so commonplace that most people turn a
blind eye to whats going on behind closed
doors. Vivas partner networks in six capital

cities across the region, including Guatemala

City, are now collaborating on a new
programme which aims to lower the rate of
violence against children and young people
through the active participation of faith
communities as agents of transformation. Pray
that, through this initiative in Guatemala and
beyond, parents will become positive role
models, families will be strengthened and whole
cities will be transformed. (Viva)
20. Ecuador
As a medical doctor specialising in international
health and tropical medicine, Jaap Bezemer,
with his wife, Linda, and their four children, is
working with Latin Link for the Ministry of Health
and has been placed in Shell, a jungle town in
Ecuador only accessible by plane. Jaaps health
clinics provide opportunities to share his faith
with oil workers and local tribes people alike.
Meanwhile, by being involved in the local school
and church, the Bezemers are modelling being
family in a local community where many
households are broken. Pray for open doors for
the Bezemer family, and boldness to take the
opportunities placed before them, as they reach
out to local people, especially to the Achuar
tribe. (Latin Link)
21. Argentina
In August OM team members organised a tea
party for about 25 women in Crdoba,
Argentina, struggling with daily problems of
domestic violence and poverty. The team
presented the workshop 'Relationships in the
centre of God's will'. "We gave them practical
tips on how to improve their relationships,"
shared Andrea. "But we also talked about the
importance of continuing to be part of God's
family." Several women commented on how
the workshop had helped and encouraged
them. Pray for the women and for more families
to be reached with the gospel. (OM)

1. Iran (1)

3. Afghanistan

Around 90 Christians are reported to be

detained in Iran for their faith, most of them
from a Muslim background. The majority face
harsh conditions in prison, and some have been
interrogated and tortured. Reports have
emerged that intelligence officers repeatedly
used a taser gun on one prisoner, pastor Saeed
Abedini, during interrogation and that he is in
need of medical treatment. It is believed that
Saeed, who is currently serving an eight-year
sentence for his involvement in Irans house
church movement, continues to suffer abuse at
the hands of other inmates too. Interrogators
have told him that he could face new charges,
alleging that he has connections with groups
opposed to the Government claims Saeed
denies. (Release International)

Health ministries have been a key aspect of

BMS approach to integral mission. Many
breakthroughs have occurred and we are
believing for more. Pray for maternal health
work amongst remote communities in the
remote mountains of Afghanistan. Pray
especially that men would own responsibility for
ensuring that their wives have access to safe
birthing conditions. (BMS)

2. Syria
With the increase of civil and religious war,
Syrians are fleeing their country and crossing
borders into Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Workers report that multitudes of refugees are
disenchanted with Islam due to the abuses they
have experienced at the hands of other
Muslims. They describe the eagerness among
Syrians to embrace the secure hope that we
have in Christ. A team recently reported, God
is moving in an unparalleled way among the
Syrian people. As we went from home to home,
visiting families we shared the good news of
Jesus, explaining how his sacrifice covers all
sin, and in every single home we visited, God
opened eyes and heartsevery single home
yielded fruit. The harvest in this part of the world
is ripe and we must pick now. It cannot wait!
Pray for Syrian refugees, that many would have
the chance to hear the gospel as workers
minister to them with compassion and love. Ask
God to send more labourers who will
courageously follow Jesus to love refugees and
displaced peoples. (Frontiers)

4. Iran (2)
SAT-7 recently launched the PARS poetry
series, which features an Iranian Christian
rapper as it targets tough topics. Persian poets
are among Irans most celebrated figures. It is
said that every Iranian home has a copy of the
poetry of Hafez and in conversation there, you
can expect to hear lines of memorised poetry
slip off the tongues of people of all ages. But,
alongside the classics, Iranian young people
have also embraced an immensely popular
Iranian form of rap poetry which avoids
swearing and violence and, instead, tackles
widespread social issues like drug addiction
and unemployment. Pray that listeners will be
challenged and inspired by these powerful
words, and that many will embrace Christ in
response to these new perspectives. (SAT-7)
5. Saudi Arabia
On the 24th September over 2,000 people are
thought to have been killed in a stampede in
Mecca, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. This
tragic loss of life has caught the attention of
people across the Arab world. Pray for those
who are reflecting on what happened and trying
to come to terms with it. Pray for those who are
able to talk with Christians and hear something
of the gospel message. (WEC International)

6. International Students

9. Italy

11. Liberia

Over the Christmas break many international

students in the UK will not be able to return
home. They can often experience loneliness
and isolation, especially if they are one of the
only students left on campus. Pray that
friendships with local Christians would mean
that these students would not have to face
Christmas alone, but will know the warmth and
welcome of friends. Pray also, that over this
time they would come to see what Christmas
really means and who Jesus really is. (Friends
International)

From the wealthy north to the impoverished

south and from the highest levels of culture to
the lowest levels of corruption, Italy is a territory
very different from its holiday-brochure image.
All BMS personnel are currently in the far south
of the country. Here, youth unemployment has
approached 50% and a sense of hopelessness
and fatalism affects even those in the churches,
making gospel proclamation and church
expansion uphill tasks. Pray for the few BMS
workers as they minister to many. Pray that
God would raise up new leaders, and pray that
His Kingdom will come in Italy. (BMS)

Po River Medical Clinic is the only clinic in the

district of Lower Yarnee, Rivercess County,
Liberia. The closest hospital in Cestos City is 10
miles away. It takes two hours to get there via
motorbike and canoe. If there are no doctors
there the next hospital is another six to eight
hours. Pray for isolated Liberians with only
limited access to medical care and essential
services. Give thanks that those at highest risk,
including children, pregnant mothers, elderly
and disabled people, will soon have access
potentially lifesaving flights with MAF. (MAF)

10. United Kingdom (2)

Victoria volunteers her time to be a wise voice

within her community on issues of child
protection, family, succession, and land rights
and responsibilities. She is one of several
paralegals who offer legal advice and education
sessions within their communities. At a recent
session, over 90 women attended, most of
whom were experiencing violence, tension, and
abuse within their family home. Pray for this
lifeline that provides practical legal advice,
mediation and support for those affected, and
an opportunity to demonstrate Gods heart for
justice. (Lawyers Christian Fellowship)

7. United Kingdom (1)

For the first time since 1975, doctors are lining
up to strike in response to government changes
in the NHS. We need to respond
compassionately to our colleagues who may
well be in turmoil about their futures. We have a
tremendous opportunity to speak of the security
we have in Christ, that even when all is stripped
away we can still be supremely satisfied in
Jesus. Pray for Christian doctors throughout
the UK to display Christ at this tumultuous time.
(Christian Medical Fellowship)
8. Slovenia
Slovenia has the fifth highest number of
suicides in the world. Bible-believing churches
are very small and isolated. Most Slovenes
have never even met a Bible-believing
Christian. There are less than 2,000 Christians
in Slovenia and very few Christian students. But
God is moving in groups of international
students with the input of UFM workers. Please
pray for a new small group that has been
started to share the gospel of Luke with their
flatmates and friends. Pray that the international
students will have a powerful impact upon
Slovenes during their time there. (UFM)

As the Christian Unions begin a busy term of

outreach events and all of the evangelistic
opportunities that Christmas brings, please pray
that the Lords hand will be over all that they do
and that through the Christian Unions, many
would hear the good news of the gospel. Pray
for students to be bold and courageous as they
speak words of truth into the lives of their
friends and coursemates. Pray too for the staff
workers who support and encourage them.
(UCCF: The Christian Unions)

12. Rwanda

13. Tanzania
In the village of Chidudu lives Velonkia, who
suffered from a terrible illness. One day she
accepted prayer from the evangelist team and
became well. I believed in Jesus because of
that ministry, she explains. But life didnt
miraculously turn around to be trouble-free - her
one-year old baby boy became seriously ill with
malaria and died. Despite the difficulties and
loss she has experienced, Velonika loves the
Lord and is grateful for the clinic and evangelists
that visit each month. Give thanks for the
witness of evangelists and medical staff through
monthly safari clinics in Tanzania. Pray that

many like Velonika will receive physical and

spiritual healing. (MAF)
14. Kenya
Miriam, a young girl herself, nurses a 3 month
old baby. The father took other girlfriends,
abandoning her when he realised she was
pregnant, and has only once met his daughter.
He offers no support. With increasing numbers
of relationships breaking down, CLEAR Kenya,
supported by Lawyers Christian Fellowship
(UK), is seeking to ensure adequate provision
for the children, through mediation and court
papers, and to share Gods love with them.
(Lawyers Christian Fellowship)
15. Malawi
Much of Malawi has been affected by
devastating floods. Many of the crops that
Malawians rely upon for their sustenance were
washed away or buried. There is a real fear that
the loss of these crops will lead to unaffordable
food prices and widespread hunger in the
coming months. Maize sown in December will
not be harvested until March / April next
year. Pray that churches, Christian
organisations, international NGOs and the
Malawian government would be vigilant and
ensure that all Malawis people have access to
sufficient food. Please also pray that this years
rains would be gentle and persistent, not
sudden and destructive; so that there would be
a good harvest and sufficient food for all.
(Zambesi Mission)
16. South Sudan
Pray for the work of the Episcopal Church of
South Sudan (ECSS) as they travel throughout
South Sudan carrying out workshops on healing
and reconciliation. Pray that this work would be
effective and bear fruit and that many would
receive the comfort, strength and healing in this
war torn country. (MAF)