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Libyan Christian:
“We are Free Now” Day 17
Outreaches to non-Christians.
Dearly Beloved Prayer Partners,
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
(Ephesians 2:10)
Ian Milmine
Page 3
Moscow Rich are Finding Jesus!
BIBLE STUDY: Mark 2:14-17 Days 1 & 2
In the vast capital of Russia, one evangelical church is creating
spiritual waves. Moscow Good News Church, founded in September
2000, has approximately 3,500 people in regular attendance," founder
Rick Renner told CBN News.
While the goal is to reach a broad section of those living in the
Moscow metropolis, the church puts a special emphasis on
reaching the upper class. "Specifically, a part of our vision is to
reach a higher class of people," Renner said. That's because
"they need God, too, and there aren't many churches that they
can actually feel comfortable in," he explained.
Most Russians belong to the Orthodox Church. The Church is gaining
more prominence after decades of persecution under the Soviets. Yet,
"Most people don't even know the tenets of the faith," Roman Lunkin
of the Slavic Centre for Law & Justice, explained. "They don't have a
personal relationship with Jesus.. Nowadays, it is hip to be religious in
Russia."
But Renner said something different happens at Moscow Good
News. Those from an Orthodox background find the evangelical
church community a whole new experience. "Some of them are
shocked!" he exclaimed. Along with the preaching of the Gospel,
worship and style of music played in church is a big draw, too. In
addition to the main service, Moscow Good News has an active
children's ministry that puts on regular drama performances
about the life of Christ. They also have an entire church
dedicated exclusively to reaching the elderly.”
Despite the tremendous success of Moscow Good News Church, it
faces a huge public perception problem, because the Russian
Orthodox Church views the evangelical churches as competitors, they
often side with the government trying to limit evangelical church
growth.
However, a generation of young Russians are emerging with
different views on the matter. "I have evangelical Christians who
are friends of mine," one young woman said. "I enjoy talking with
them and appreciate things they share with me." "I know the
Orthodox Church doesn't have a good opinion of the Protestant
churches, but that has to change," another young woman said.
It is that sentiment that Renner and members of Moscow Good News
Church hope lead to more Russians embracing the message of Jesus
Christ. "Capitalism has come. Many people are successful. Many
people have made money," Renner said."Many people have huge
amounts of money, and they've found out for themselves that it is not
the answer to all of their problems," Renner noted. "And so there's a
new wave of interest in spiritual things."
CBN News
Page 7
Africa: Scripture Engagement Tools
BIBLE STUDY: Proverbs 4:10-13 Day 9
Recognizing that everyone loves a good story, OneHope has
instigated two new Scripture-engagement tools to help children
understand the importance of a biblical worldview. Originally designed
to impart Scripture's most important themes and keep children coming
back to Bible clubs in Ghana, "17 Stories" is available for
primary-aged children in many cultures.
It consists of 16 individual trading cards. Each card has a Bible
story illustration on one side and a graphic illustrating the Bible's
overarching meta-narrative on the other side. Children receive
one card at each club meeting, where they also hear the
individual stories. After 16 meetings, they've put together the
entire "puzzle picture" from the meta-narrative graphic.
The second new Scripture-engagement tool is a booklet called "75
Stories," which is styled to help children in club-based settings
understand important Bible stories. As with "17 Stories," "75 Stories"
relies on illustrations and storytelling to impart important truths. It will
be launched in 2012 in Uganda.
One Hope; Pentecostal Evangel
PRAISE: God for this initiative to help ground African
children in the truth of the Bible. Pray that it may lead to
strong disciples of Jesus all over Africa.
Page 10
Biblical Pattern of Revival:
God’s Revival Covenant
With King Solomon
Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their
wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land.”
Page 11
Examples from History:
REVIVAL AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN
YEPPOON, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Page 12
back her up all the way because this is all good,” they declared.
Parents of another student aged 15 reported that their son had
given up his addiction to alcohol and drugs. “He now reads his
Bible at home - even during the State of Origin (rugby league
game)!” The boy’s father declared, “Son, I’m proud of you! You go
for it with all you’ve got!”
Page 13
Prayer Concerning Revival
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one
accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and
earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of
Your servant David have said:
“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,
both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people
of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and
Your purpose determined before to be done.
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that
with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out
Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done
through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
And when they had prayed, the place where they were
assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
(Acts 4:24-31)
And this will hold true for all people at all times”
(Frank Bartleman)
Page 14
A Great Opportunity for the UK Church
BIBLE STUDY: Proverbs.28:27 Days 15 & 16
“The success of the ‘big society’ initiative will not just require the help
of faith organisations; it will need actively to promote them.” So
concludes a fresh report published by the Jubilee Centre. Recent
research by Evangelical Alliance and Christian Research showed that
81% of evangelical Christians do some kind of voluntary work at least
once a month. This compares with a much lower figure of 26% for the
population at large.
Motivated by a love of neighbour, Christians will be keen to take
any new opportunities that arise to play a greater role in their
communities as a result of the big society. However, to quote the
Jubilee Centre report, there is a continuing question "of how
much people will want to engage with big society initiatives if
there is no direct and obvious benefit to themselves". Even the
government admits that its big society ambitions are highly
unlikely to succeed without the help of faith groups – not least
because more people do unpaid work for church groups than any
other organisation.
For example, Lady Warsi has called for "a new beginning for relations
between society, faith and the state", while the communities secretary,
Eric Pickles, has acknowledged that, in realising its ambitions for a big
society, central government needs to "build on the huge amount of
experience faith groups have in getting out into the community", and
promised to send "an important signal that we value the role of religion
and faith in public life", for "the days of the state trying to suppress
Christianity and other faiths are over".
In one of the prime minister's clearest statements defining the
government's programme, David Cameron said: "The big society
is about a huge culture change where people … feel both free
and powerful enough to help themselves and their own
communities."
John Hayward, writing in The Guardian says, “When even the atheist
historian David Starkey is expressing ‘profound doubts’ over what he
recently described on Question Time as the arrival of ‘a tyrannous new
morality that is every bit as oppressive as the old’, we would be wise
to take heed. For if people of faith retreat from the public square
because they feel intimidated by political correctness and restrictive
human rights legislation, it will be more than just our freedoms of
expression, conscience and religion under threat. Unless the coalition
resolves the current tension over equality and human rights, and
ensures that people enjoy sufficient freedom of conscience to be truly
able to ‘help themselves and their own communities’, then whatever
other steps the government takes to achieve its big society ambitions
will fail,” he states.
The Guardian; Prayer Alert; RevivalMedia
Day 15 – PRAISE: God that key people are seeing the
importance of Christian faith to the nation.
Day 16 – PRAY: That this may translate in greater
openness for Christian witness in public places.
Page 15
Libyan Christian: “We are Free Now”
BIBLE STUDY: John 8:34-38 Day 17
John, a secret believer travelling covertly by jeep to escape the
country, had been dropped off at an oil field in the middle of the desert
to await a driver to escort them to the next location. A close encounter
with armed oil-field workers thinking they were bandits alerted John to
existing dangers and he silently thanked God for His protection.
When his contact came out of the desert John was amazed to
recognize Christian music playing inside the jeep. As his journey
continued with Samy, the driver, they listened to ‘Jesus, only you’
and ‘Blessed are those who dwell in the house of the Lord.’ John
asked Samy if he knew what the music was about and he replied.
‘Yes, we are free now!’ Prayer Alert author's note: the ancient
Berbers of Libya were called Imazighan, meaning ‘free men’.
John ended his story by saying, “May his people really experience in
the coming days or weeks not only political freedom, but also personal
and religious freedom, may they indeed be freed from the grip of Islam
on their life and respect a person's freedom of faith-choice. Keep
praying for us. God be praised.”
Prayer Alert; Open Doors, USA
PRAISE: God He sent His “angels” to protect His people
amid the Libyan conflict. Pray with John that this turmoil
will lead many Libyans to freedom in Christ.
Page 16
Azerbaijan: Church Reaches Out
BIBLE STUDY: Acts 8:3-4 Day 19
In a country where religion has been restricted, the Azerbaijani church
is growing and reaching out. While the government required the
re-registration of all religious organizations, not a single evangelical
church has been allowed to register.
Persecution has followed. Several pastors have been imprisoned
for many months for activity on behalf of their church. However,
it hasn't affected church growth in the predominately-Muslim
nation. Especially young people are open and want to know more
about God.
Many are turning to Christ as Christians reach out covertly with the
Gospel, and these new believers are passionate about evangelism
and strategically reach out to villages. Because the government does
not allow them to print any Christian literature, Bibles and training is
their main need.
Joel News International
PRAISE: Be to God for the commitment of these new
Christians who are reaching out to others despite the
dangers. Pray for the release of their pastors and that they
may grow strong in Christ.
Page 17
Vietnam Allows Large Christian Rally
BIBLE STUDY: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 Day 21
Evangelist Luis Palau spoke to an estimated 16,000 people in Ho Chi
Minh City April 9-10, with as many as 5,000 making a commitment to
Christ. Palau credited Vietnamese pastors for organizing the historic
event. This could signal a new openness for the church in a country
long criticized for persecuting believers.
"It's very touching to see their humility… and confidence in the
Lord," he said. "And they speak with those who they have to talk
to in leadership with humble authority," he said. "This is very
impressive.” "They don't give up. They are persistent. They are
consistent," Palau continued. "And they insist on doing what the
Lord has told them to do. And they're willing to pay any price if
that happens. The Christian community here is so passionate, so
patriotic, so optimistic, and so excited for the future of the nation.
It is thrilling to see."
The festival to mark the nation's 100-year celebration of the
Protestant church in Vietnam almost didn't take place.
Palau's team was granted permission to hold the festival in Ho Chi
Minh's Thanh Long Stadium a mere three hours before it was
scheduled to start. The rally was the first time since 1975 that a global
Christian leader was allowed to share the Gospel to such a massive
Vietnamese audience. However, what was possible in the country’s
more Christian South, proved impossible in the communist northern
stronghold of Hanoi. Government officials repeatedly blocked
organizers from staging an event as planned. Palau says he hopes to
return to Vietnam this summer. He's likely to try again in Hanoi.
CBN News; Compass Direct
PRAISE: God that Christians are experiencing greater
freedom in some parts of Vietnam. Pray that suffering may
continue to be the seed of growth.
Page 18
Pray for the Church in Azerbaijan
BIBLE STUDY: Psalm 93:1-5 Day 23
In 1991, when Azerbaijan declared its independence from the Soviet
Union, it is estimated that there were only a handful of Azeri believers.
There are now some 8,000 worshipping in 50 churches and
congregations. But how have the people of Azerbaijan and its
government reacted to these Azeri Muslims who are turning to worship
Isa Mesih (Jesus Christ)?
Practising what could be viewed as a ‘benevolent’ form of Islam,
Azeri society has on the whole been tolerant of those who follow
Christ and, unlike other parts of the Muslim world, Azeri families
are unlikely to disown members who choose to become
Christians. However, the government has not accepted the notion
of religious pluralism so readily.
Azerbaijan’s Constitution guarantees religious freedom for all its
citizens, but in reality there is a history of government interference and
control, and it is common for government bodies to deny legal status
to new religious bodies, and many pastors have been detained and
imprisoned for no apparent reason other than meeting together.
Nevertheless the Church continues to grow, often with the help of
expatriate workers who have met Christ while overseas, and returned
to contribute positively to church life.
People International
PRAISE: God for the growth of Christian faith where there
was none. Pray for freedom to worship without
harassment, and for Godly leadership.
Page 20
Prayer Brings Jobs to London
BIBLE STUDY: Jeremiah 33:1-3 Day 27
“Is there a spiritual realm, an unseen dimension to what happens here
on earth? Or is spiritual warfare just our imagination?” asks house
church planter Felicity Dale. She continues, "For many years we were
involved in a church plant in the East End of London in the UK. At that
point in time it was a very run-down, neglected area of around 120,000
people, and 93% government housing.
The unemployment rate was about 17%. Within our church, a
network of home groups, we had maybe 10 or 12 people who had
been out of work for some considerable time with no prospect of
employment. As a fellowship we decided that this wasn't just a
natural problem but it had a spiritual component to it. So in one
particular gathering, we put all the people who were looking for a
job in the centre of the room, while the rest of us prayed for them.
Someone suggested that we treat it like the battle of Jericho, so
we actually marched round them 7 times, shouting praise to God
the final time. Then we prayed for each person individually.
Were we crazy? It must have looked crazy to any outsider. But over
the next few weeks, every one of those people found a job!"
Joel News International
PRAISE: God for His faithful answer to prayer. Pray that
the Church may realise the power of prayer.
Page 21
Accused Afghan Christian Released
BIBLE STUDY: Isaiah 61:1-2 Day 29
In our previous edition of The International Daily Prayer Bulletin we
published the story of Said Musa, a Christian to whom Jesus
appeared in the middle of the night, and who had been imprisoned on
false charges of blasphemy and could expect the death penalty. The
latest news is that he has been released from prison and has left the
country with his family. Sources in Afghanistan have confirmed this to
Open Doors. Another Afghan Christian, Shoib Assadullah, is still
imprisoned. He was arrested for giving a New Testament to another
believer.
Open Doors; Joel News
PRAISE: God for His mercy. Pray that Shoib may continue
steadfast in witness and be released soon