Praying for the Persecuted Church - Nepal

Well we are already a week into August....Time to be praying for a new country and our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as for those who don't know Christ. This month, join me in praying for Nepal. For more information on how you can help send missionaries out into Nepal, check out Gospel for Asia's Website.

---------------------

Nepal is a nation that needs your prayers. From over a decade of bloody civil conflict that claimed thousands of lives to ongoing political instability in its government, this picturesque Himalayan country has suffered greatly and bears deep wounds.

But there is hope for Nepal—and through the prayers of His people, God has been working both in the political front and through His Church.

Read on to step inside some of the challenges for prayer in Nepal.

More than a Decade of Civil War

The civil war that raged between government and Maoist forces lasted more than ten years, claiming 14,000 precious lives and inflicting trauma on countless others. A peace agreement was signed in 2006, which was an incredible answer to prayer. But then political instability and sporadic violence continued, raising fears of a return to all-out fighting.

Please pray for lasting peace for Nepal—and for its people who have suffered so much to find true healing and redemption in Christ.

The Government

For more than 200 years, Nepal was officially a Hindu nation, posing many difficulties for missionaries sharing about Christ's love. But in an amazing turn of events, changes in the government in 2006 and 2008 paved the way for the birth of a democracy. Nepal was on its way to becoming a secular nation with more religious freedom.

The Constitution

Nepal is still in transition, as its recently elected Constituent Assembly has yet to draft the country's new constitution. This would officially establish democracy as well as complete a four-year peace process between the government and the Maoists.

The Assembly missed its May 28 deadline to draft the new constitution. In the weeks leading up to the date, the nation suffered from strikes imposed by the Maoist political party. A one-year extension has been granted to the Assembly.

Please lift up the writing of this new constitution; pray that it can be completed in a timely manner and for it to provide for a favorable environment in which the Gospel can flourish.

Drought and Food Crisis

Every year, parts of Nepal are affected by severe droughts and food crises. The droughts dry up crops, creating the food shortage. The people in these areas have also been especially vulnerable to the cholera epidemic. According to reports, 425 people died from cholera during just a two-month period.

One factor contributing to the drought is that farmers in the mountainous areas lack a good irrigation system and must depend on rainwater. And when monsoon rains are delayed, the crops suffer. It is a vicious cycle that puts many at peril.

Please pray for Gospel for Asia-supported pastors and missionaries ministering to suffering people in the areas affected by the drought.

National Missionaries and Their Churches

In this nation that has suffered so greatly from political turmoil, Gospel for Asia-supported missionaries and the churches they shepherd serve as bright lights and beacons of hope to their communities. The very real risk of persecution, steep mountain trails to be hiked and frigid temperatures are a few of the challenges faced by these missionaries—yet they gladly endure these things for the sake of Christ. And their efforts are bringing forth fruit! Reports have even come in of new believers eagerly trekking for hours to attend church and worship the Savior.

Pray that the missionaries in Nepal will be filled with joy, Christ's love and physical stamina as they diligently take His Good News to their people. Pray they will encounter receptive hearts, and pray for new believers to be strengthened daily in their faith.

A Thriving Radio Ministry

By God's grace, GFA Radio has been able to broadcast the Good News on various stations throughout the country, including on Radio Nepal. And there has been tremendous response, showing people's hunger to know more about Jesus. In some areas, rallies for radio listeners provide opportunities for people to hear more about Jesus and meet GFA-supported pastors.

Given the rugged and remote terrain found in much of Nepal, radio has proven to be a valuable tool to take the Gospel to difficult-to-reach places. Many people live in mountain villages with stunningly beautiful views, yet may never have heard about the God who created that beauty. Radio can be a powerful means to reach these precious people.

Please pray for continued open doors for GFA's radio ministry in Nepal. Pray that many people will tune in to the broadcasts and that many hearts will be drawn to the Savior.

Prayer for July - The USA #2

In my Bible reading this evening I came across this verse, upon meditating upon it I felt it should be a prayer for our country. So to lead us again in praying for the USA this month, I ask that you join me in praying God's Word and this verse specifically over the US.

"Repent therefore and be converted,
that your sins may be blotted out,
so that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord"
Acts 3:19

grace and peace
r

Keep Your Eyes Open

It is a new day!

Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18-19

Prayer for July - The USA

I know I have been doing a "Pray for the Persecuted Church" each month, but this month, being that it is July, I think we should pray for America...the good old US of A!
:)

So won't you join me this month as we pray for our country.

Here are some prayer points to help guide you:

1. Pray for our leaders, from the President on down to your mayor. Pray that they would seek wisdom from the Lord that they would repent of their sins and turn to Jesus as their Savior.

2. Pray for those in law enforcement, fire department, etc. Pray that the Lord would protect them and bless them. Pray that they would also be given wisdom from above and that they too would come to know Jesus as their Savior!

3. Pray for our military! Those serving overseas and at home. Pray for their families at home. Pray that the Lord would provide for all their needs. Pray for those fighting that they they would be given strength to endure and protection. Pray for those coming home from war, that the Lord would bring healing to their hearts, minds and bodies. Pray for those reunifying with their families after serving overseas. Pray that it would be a smooth transition. Pray a special blessing upon our military that the Lord would totally bless them and their families for their service.

4. Pray for America....we need the Lord....pray for Revival upon this country like it has never seen before in our history. Pray that those who are already Christians would LIVE like Christians and would shine and be examples and witnesses to all those around them. Pray that all Christians would repent of theirs sins, actually turn from their sins, and pursue righteousness and holiness.

and pray that God would Bless America!

grace and peace,
rachel

Praying for the Persecuted Church - Laos #2

I know that I have been primarily focusing on our persecuted brothers and sisters in these prayer posts...but I feel that there is a need to not only be praying for those who already know the Lord, but for those in Laos who do not yet know Him. Not just for those doing the persecuting but for every single person who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

OMF (originally founded by J. Hudson Taylor) has a great guide for praying for the people of Laos. Join me in praying through this list and remembering those in Laos.

• The church still faces restrictions and Christians still face persecution. Pray for freedom for evangelism, church planting and building, for the effective use of present freedoms and for changes that will open Laos up for the preaching of the gospel. Rather than retrenching, pray that Christians would reach out, especially to the ethnic minorities.
• Pray for unity, integrity and godly leadership in the church.
• Pray for leadership and Bible training. Pray for the effectiveness of informal study programs [by radio and through Theological Education by Extension].
• Missionary work is not officially permitted, but there are openings for Christian professionals and those working with aid and relief programs. Pray for a reopened door for Bible translators, church planters and Bible teachers.
• Unreached peoples in which there are no known churches:
  - Tai peoples, speaking 15 languages.
  - The northern peoples, many of whom have responded to the gospel in neighboring China and Thailand.
  - The small southern ethnic groups that were being evangelized for the first time between 1957 and 1963. War prevented the planting of churches among most of these peoples and they remain deeply enmeshed in the fear of spirits.
  - The Vietnamese and Chinese, among whom there has been little evangelism.
• There are at least 13 languages for which there is a definite need for Bible translation teams and a possible total of 66 languages. Pray for discernment in prioritizing, and for men and women to invest their lives in translating God’s word.
• Christian radio: FEBC broadcasts 16 hours weekly in Lao, Hmong, Khmu and Lahu. Pray for a good reception and spiritual response.

Tozer Devo

This devo has SO much truth to it! I can see it all around me, in our world today, with the young and the old....those who have such energy and drive, and yet put their focus in the wrong things...or things that are not eternal...definitely food for thought.

.............................................................................

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You
created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
--Revelation 4:11

Without worship we go about miserable; that's why we have all the
troubles we have. You wonder why young people act like such idiots.
Some young people have a lot of energy and don't know what to do
with it, so they go out and act like idiots; and that's why gangsters
and Communists and sinners of all kinds do what they do. They are
endowed by God Almighty with brilliant intelligence and an amazing
store of energy, and because they don't know what to do with it they
do the wrong thing. That's why I'm not angry with people when I see
them go off the deep end, because I know that they have fallen from
their first estate along with Adam's brood and all of us together.
They haven't been redeemed and so they have energy they don't know
what to do with; they have capacity they don't know how to use. They
have skills and don't know where to put them, and so they go wild
and police have to arrest 16-year-olds and put them in jail. If they
had been taught that they came into the world in the first place to
worship God and to enjoy Him forever and that when they fell Jesus
Christ came to redeem them, to make worshipers out of them, they
could by the Holy Ghost and the washing of the blood be made into
worshiping saints and things would be so different.

-AW Tozer

Praying for the Persecuted Church - Laos

We continue on with our month to month praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ, who are in countries where serving our Lord comes with a heavy price.

This month we will be praying for those in Laos. According to OpenDoorsUSA's World Watch List, Laos ranks #10 on the list of countries in the world, for it's oppression of Christians.



Here is some information on Laos to help guide you as you pray. (All info is from Open Doors)
Leader: President Choummaly Sayasone
Population: 6.4 million (200,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Buddhism
Government: Communist state


Laos is the only other Communist-ruled country in the top 10 of the WWL (with North Korea). Despite many people's expectations, the situation in Laos has not improved much in the past year. The church is relatively small but continues to grow (numbering about 200,000 believers, mostly belonging to ethnic minorities). There has been no improvement in religious liberty and persecution in Laos includes a few restrictions in legislation. The government’s attitude is very negative and restrictive towards Christians, and all believers are under strict surveillance because they are regarded as agents for the USA to bring political change in Laos towards “democracy.” The church cannot operate freely and its activities in society are limited. Christians are restricted in their roles in the family and in the village. Christian converts who renounce evil spirit worship come under great societal pressure. From time to time believers are arrested, and many of them experience extreme physical and emotional pressure (torture) to renounce their (new) faith. In the 2010 at least 25 Christians were killed; at least another 20 were arrested and held without trial. Christians were physically harassed on a regular basis and a number of churches were destroyed or damaged. Thousands of (Christian) Hmong refugees are living in Thailand. Despite the high level of persecution in Laos, there are many unregistered activities and the Church seems to be growing.

PRAY:
For God’s protection and provision for the 11 families expelled from their villages, especially the young children.

That Christians will have the courage to remain in the faith, in spite of the high price they must pay.

That policies designed to promote religious freedom will be implemented in rural areas and benefit believers, who are mostly tribal and rural.

Please continue to hold up Laos in your prayers throughout the month of June!

grace and peace
rachel

Beautiful.

A highway shall be there, and a road,
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it,
But it shall be for others.
Whoever walks the road, although a fool,
Shall not go astray.
No lion shall be there,
Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;
It shall not be found there.
But the redeemed shall walk there,
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
~Isaiah 35:8-10

The Abiding Companionship of God

"His soul shall dwell at ease." In tribulation, misunderstanding, slander, in the midst of all these things, if our life is hid with Christ in God, He will keep us at ease. We rob ourselves of the marvelous revelation of this abiding companionship of God. "God is our Refuge" - nothing can come through that shelter.
-Oswald Chambers

*

Memorial Day

Thank you to all who have died defending and protecting my USA. The price of freedom has cost many everything they had...and yet they gave willingly. The men and women of our armed forces and their commitment to defend our country make me very proud to be an American. May the Lord bless and protect all who are serving right now, wherever they may be in this world.