Cornerstone University of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Here are your weekly prayer items. Please pray over them during your
personal devotional time and at your church prayer meeting.
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'Tsunami orphans' struggle for hope
Japan (MNN) -- Japan's March tsunami has left hundreds of orphans behind
with little hope. PIONEERS missionary to Japan Tony Haug says, "There are at
least 1,200 children who lost at least one parent to the tsunami and
earthquake, and at least 200 lost both." Most of these orphans will end up
with relatives or in orphanages because "Japan is kind of historically known
as a very closed society when it comes to adoption." In the meantime, the
kids are taught to grin and bear it. "The word in Japanese is 'gaman'--just
take it, receive it and live with it. It's a passive way of dealing with
tragedies." It's not very hopeful, but the Haugs plan to change that as they
open an English preschool ministry. "Even if 10 children would come, that
represents potentially about 300 Japanese in extended family and friends
that we can minister to."
* Pray for the tsunami orphans of Japan to find hope in Christ.
* Pray for teachers for the preschool in Japan.
* Pray for God to use this tragedy to build His church.
(Learn more at: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15863)
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Northern Sudan menaces the South prior to Independence
Sudan (MNN) -- Three weeks before Sudan's South is set to secede, the North
and the South have agreed to demilitarized zone and peacekeepers. Disputed
borderlands were the stickiest issue of the separation. Carl Moeller with
Open Doors says, "It is oil rich, and that's going to motivate a lot of this
violence, as well. Again, as we talked about many times, the split in that
nation is primarily among religious and ethnic lines." The greatest concern
is violence that could lead to genocide. "As we've seen the military
buildups in that region on satellite imagery, there can only be one
conclusion: the tensions are possibly going to lead to violence at the
beginning of July." Millions of lives are at stake. Believers have already
borne the brunt of persecution from the Khartoum government. Moeller asks
for prayer: "The weapon of prayer is also a weapon of solidarity to let them
know that they're not alone in this struggle and that if we do become aware,
then our awareness can lead us to speak out on behalf of those Christians."
* Ask God to surround the new president with godly advisors.
* Pray for a peaceful transition.
(To learn more, go to: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15871)
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World's second most-dangerous city finds hope in prison
Mexico (MNN) -- Despite the recent capture of a senior crime boss, Juarez,
Mexico remains the world's second most-dangerous city. Drug wars have pushed
homicide rates from 300 to 3000. David Schuringa says Crossroad Bible
Institute works with a seminary there. "Everyone from that
seminary--students, staff. professors--knows someone who's been directly
affected by this very dangerous situation." In a revolutionary move, CBI is
opening a satellite campus in Juarez. Seminary students are taking on the
task of ministering to prisoners through Bible lessons, but "along with the
lessons, they have to also bring things like food, clothing, blankets,
medical help," says Schuringa. "It's very clearly a 'word and deed'
ministry. In fact, it's even dangerous." Violence flows into the prisons,
but this ministry could be pivotal to the dangerous city's transformation.
Pray that God's love would shine clearly to prisoners in Juárez through the
efforts of those involved in this ministry. Pray that the entire city would
be turned upside down by God's grace.
* Become an instructor for prisoners at the CBI Web site.
* Pray for God to reach Juarez through this breakthrough ministry.
(There's more at: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15877)
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Failed States Index includes more of Asia
International (MNN) -- Few surprises came from the annual Failed States
Index report this week. At the top of the list are Somalia, Chad, Sudan, and
Congo. But Pakistan, Burma, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka were
also featured in the top 30. What is interesting is that the Index seems to
mirror the Open Doors World Watch list. Dyann Romeijn Vision Beyond Borders
says, "There is a lot of religious persecution in these areas. What we're
seeing, I think, is a reflection of the lack of religious freedom, and the
lack of Christian influence in those cultures." Vision Beyond Borders serves
in four of the Asian countries on the Failed States Index. Among the most
challenging is Burma. The United Nations affirmed its commitment to peace
and democracy, but Romeijn says, "We can't expect the United Nations to step
in on all these things. They're not stepping in; they're not doing anything.
But as Christians, we're supposed to have compassion on these people. And
God has told us to bear one another's burdens, to pray for each other, and
to do what we can to help the widows and the orphans." Give, pray or go.
* Pray that doors stay open for the Gospel.
* Ask God to appoint the right people to shed light on Truth.
* Pray that peace will return to areas where violence reigns.
(There's more online at: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15879)
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Afghan violence likely to spike ahead of U.S. troop withdrawal
USA/Afghanistan (MNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama is bringing home 33,000
troops from Afghanistan within the next 15 months. The announcement met with
mixed reaction. Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs says, "There is not a
great deal of confidence in the Afghan security forces to protect religious
freedom." Although President Obama noted that "the tide of war is turning,"
that doesn't mean the threat is gone. One believer expressed it this way:
"The Taliban has shaved their beards, and they've taken off their black
turbans, but they're still here." Nettleton goes on to say that left
unchecked, the Taliban could declare open war on Christians. "Their
interpretation of being a devout Muslim means that they should attack
Christians, that a person who leaves Islam is an apostate and deserves to be
killed." Christians make up less than one percent of the population, but the
Gospel is still going forward. "We have contacts within the Afghan church
that we provide assistance to," says Nettleton. "We provide Scriptures and
other forms of assistance, but it is very much an underground presence."
* Pray for a peaceful transition and for increased religious freedom.
* Pray that Christians in Afghanistan will stand strong in their faith
and reach out to their neighbors, despite their small numbers.
(For more, go to: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/15888)
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Mission Network News is dedicated to keeping Christians informed about
missions and evangelism around the world. Our goal is to help you
become engaged in missions through praying more effectively, giving or
going to the field short or long term.
Thank you for your dedication and heart for world missions. Your
prayers are greatly appreciated. May God richly bless you as you
serve Him today!
In His grip,
Greg Yoder, Executive Director
Mission Network News
1.800.284.9361
616.942.1500
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