Posts Tagged ‘Prayer’

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Unreached

Posted on May 20th, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning
Kurd, Turkish-Speaking of Turkey

Population: 5,799,000

Language: Turkish

Religion: Islam (99.99%)

% Christian/% Evangelical: 0.01%/0.00%

About: At 25 million people, the Kurds are the currently the largest ethnic group in the world without a state of their own. They are unevenly distributed between Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Armenia and Azerbaijan. If the Middle East map were to be redrawn to give the Kurds their own boundaries, Kurdistan would be as large as France, stretching over 200,000 square miles.

Kurdish Life: Kurdish society consists mainly of tribes that arose from a nomadic and semi-nomadic way of life in previous centuries. It is strongly fragmented and is often split by internal disagreements. So far in history, the Kurds have never really managed to unite in their common cause. Their primary loyalty is to the immediate family, and then to the tribe. Tribe allegiance is, however, based on a mixture of kinship and territorial loyalty. Many Kurds of the lower regions are not organized in tribes, but even there, strife is common between the different clans and communities.

Beliefs: It has been said that Kurds “hold their Islam lightly”, meaning that they are not so vehement about Islam, and they do not identify as closely with it as Arabs do. This is perhaps due to several factors, one being that many Kurds still feel some connection with the ancient Zoroastrian faith, and they feel it is an original Kurdish spirituality that far predates the seventh century AD arrival of Muhammad. Nonetheless, most Kurds are Muslims, and today about three-quarters are members of the majority Sunni branch (at least nominally). As many as four million Kurds are Shiite Muslims, living mostly in Iran where the Shiite faith is predominant.

Needs: In Turkey, where the largest contingent of Kurds live (40%), the Kurds are seen as a threat by the Turkish government, which has continually sought to assimilate the Kurds into Turkish society through forced resettlement. Until recently, it was a crime to speak Kurdish in public.

Tribalism is still a factor among Kurds, promoting many different factions which weaken the possibility of an independent homeland. The Kurds in Iraq have hurt their own cause infighting between the two primary parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Although the engagement of the UN in northern Iraq has necessarily also given continuity to the political cause of the Kurds, the question of Kurdish autonomy remains unresolved. One possible solution to this problem is to achieve genuine agreement on some kind of self-government.

Of course, more than anything, the Turkish speaking Kurds of Turkey need Jesus.

Prayer Points
- Ask the Lord to convict Kurds of their need for a Savior.
- Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Kurds who are Christians.
- Ask God to send more laborers to work among the Kurds.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Kurds towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
- Pray that God will open the hearts of Turkey’s governmental leaders to the gospel.
- Ask the Lord to raise up a strong local church among the Turkish speaking Kurds of Turkey.
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! – Psalm 117:1

Information for this post was gathered from Joshua Project. For more information, check out Operation World.
Saudi Arabia’s Price for Evangelism: 6 Years and 300 Lashings

Posted on May 16th, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning

In Saudi Arabia, a Lebanese man has recently been sentenced to 6 years in prison and 300 lashings for leading a Saudi woman to Christ, and then allegedly helping her escape the country.

There’s not a country on the planet more inherently Muslim than Saudi Arabia. It is, after all, home to the Muslim holy city and destination for millions of pilgrim worshippers each year – Mecca. So for Muslims who live there, to convert from Islam to another religion is a capitol offense that can result in execution. Proselytizing there is also illegal: It doesn’t matter if you’re from another country and have a different belief system altogether… you’re expected to keep that to yourself.

So let’s pray for this man. But let’s also pray for prospective missionaries who are trying to get into Saudi Arabia and for believers who may already be there. The battle there is uphill, to be sure, but our God’s mighty arm is not too short to save. He deserves the praise of Saudis too.

HT: First Things
Unreached

Posted on May 13th, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning
Kurd, Kurmanji of Turkey

Population: 8,013,000

Language: Kurdish, Northern

Religion: Islam (93.19%)

% Christian/% Evangelical: 0.01%/0.00%

About: The Northern Kurds of Turkey live in the most rugged part of Kurdistan. They are located near the Turkey-Iran border, and eastward along the Iraq and Syrian borders. In the mountain regions, winter temperatures drop to -30C. In the summer, they reach 45C. Water is scarce; and malaria, tuberculosis, and trachoma are persistent problems.

Kurds are divided by both outside influences and internal strife. In spite of their longing for a united Kurdistan, the people have not yet initiated any political or liberation movement. Historical trends have driven them apart and accentuated their differences. However, since 1965, these proud and fiercely independent people have made a clear return to their roots. The urge to speak Kurdish is becoming a catalyst for more and more educated Kurds. Although they have suffered set-backs since the Gulf War, this nationalism is laying the foundations for a Kurdish cultural and literary revival.

What are their lives like?
Kurds in Turkey make their living in the same way their relatives do in Iran and Iraq: farming, and raising cattle and goats. The area is well wooded, although the demand for firewood is slowly thinning the supply of trees. Although a few Kurds still live the semi-nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors, most now live in small villages of less than 2000 people.

Although Kurdish farming techniques are somewhat archaic, they are now being integrated into the Turkish capitalist market. Cotton, sugar, beets, and tobacco, are replacing the traditional food crops. The Kurds grow them for the Turkish market and for export. Kurdistan is also the main source for cattle, sheep, goats, and animal products in Turkey. Kurdish agriculture has changed little since the Middle Ages and is far behind the rest of Turkey.

Large families are the rule and most households have at least five or six members. Disintegration of the tribal structure began at the turn of the century and entered its final phase in the seventies. Massive migrations to the towns, as well as other cultural and social changes, have contributed to the extinction of tribal society.

Schools are ill-equipped and there are too few of them. Medical care is inadequate in the towns and almost non-existent in the rural areas.

What are their beliefs?
Nearly all Kurds are Muslim, most being Shafiite Sunnis, and embraced Islam following the Arab conquests if the seventh century.

Although Kurds are predominantly Sunnis, there is stormy hostility between the Sunni Kurds and the Shi’ite Kurds. These differences have class overtones, and the lower class minorities are associated with the more unorthodox sects of Islam. These have proven to be the most fervently rebellious parts of Kurdish society.

Even among the Sunni Kurds, there are traces of an earlier pagan and violent type faith which sets them apart from other Muslims. In the rural areas, a few still believe in jinnis, demons, and elements of animal worship. Mullahs (Muslim spiritual leaders) play an important role in the social and cultural life of those living in the country. Religious fraternities operate throughout Kurdistan. In the past, some influential sheiks (spiritual leaders) even became members of parliament. However, as time went by, their authority began to crumble. Today, their spiritual and economic power is being challenged.

What are their needs?
The Kurds have followed Islam for many years. Although the New Testament is now available in their language, there are few known Northern Kurd believers.

Physically, the Kurds live in very poor conditions. Good water supplies are scarce, and they are exposed to diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. Politically, they are oppressed by the government. They need the liberty to educate their children in their own language.

Prayer Points
- Ask the Lord to call qualified Christian doctors who are willing to go to Turkey and share their medical expertise as well as Jesus Christ with the Kurds.
- Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the small number of Kurds who are Christians.
- Ask God to send more laborers to work among the Kurds.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Kurds towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
- Pray that God will open the hearts of Turkey’s governmental leaders to the gospel.
- Ask the Lord to raise up a strong local church among the Northern Kurds of Turkey.
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! – Psalm 117:1

Information for this post was gathered from Joshua Project. For more information, check out Operation World.
Persecution on the Rise in East Africa

Posted on May 9th, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning

The following is one of the May 3 prayer updates from Voice of the Martyrs:

“Persecution of Christians by Muslim extremists continues to increase in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Pastor Mathayo Kachili was killed in Buseresere, Tanzania, recently by radical Muslims who attacked him with machetes. Pastor Mathayo was a husband and father of 12 children. VOM workers met with his wife, Generosa, to encourage and comfort her, and also helped provide some of her needs, including shelter, food, clothing and seed money to start a small business. Christianity is still the majority religion in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, and church growth has been remarkable in the last 20 years. But Islamists in the north have been pouring resources into East Africa to radicalize the Muslim population and drive out Christians.”

For more information about persecuted believers and how you can pray for them, be sure to check out Voice of the Martyrs. Open Doors also offers a variety of useful information to help us better support our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.
North Korea Puts American Missionary On Trial

Posted on May 1st, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning

The following was posted on the ‘Gleanings’ page of Christianity Today’s website. CT has linked to a number of helpful sources throughout their post, so be sure to check it out if you want more information on this situation.

“North Korea has announced that it will try an American citizen who was arrested nearly six months ago for “crimes aimed to topple the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea].” If convicted, China-based missionary Kenneth Bae could face the death penalty.

But Bae’s friends say he did not do anything wrong despite reports by North Korean state media that he confessed to the crime. According to the Associated Press, “friends and colleagues described Bae as a devout Christian from Washington state but based in the Chinese border city of Dalian who traveled frequently to North Korea to feed the country’s orphans.”

Bae was detained in November 2012. The State Department has not confirmed that Bae is indeed the man whom North Korea plans to put on trial.

“At least three other Americans detained in recent years also have been devout Christians,” the AP reports. “While North Korea’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, in practice only sanctioned services are tolerated by the regime.”

According to the U.S. State Department’s most recent Report on International Religious Freedom, North Korea holds an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 prisoners for political and religious reasons. Among those held in 2010 was Christian activist Robert Park, who was imprisoned in North Korea for seven months.”

Park entered the country without authorization intending to be arrested, but told CT after his release that he never wanted anyone else to enter the country as he did. However, a friend and fellow Christian, Aijalon Mahli Gomes, followed suit. Jimmy Carter secured his release.
Unreached

Posted on April 29th, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning
Kumhar of India

Population: 14,487,000

Language: Hindi

Religion: Hinduism (99.98%)

%Christian: 0.00%

Persecution Rank: 31

About: Per old Indian mythology, the Kumhar are offspring of Lord Braham (Prajapati). This is why in some places in India, the Kumhar use Pajapati/Prajapat as a surname according to Indian caste system. However, the Kumhar can also be found throughout India under the surnames Verma, Kumhar, and Kumawat. Ancient Indian culture cannot be deciphered without acknowledging the Kumhar.

The Kumhar’s livelihood is making earthen pots. They claim to be the first inventors of the wheel/cycle, which they use not only to make pots, but other earthen utensils as well. Historically, their main way of earning income has been through these earthen products and agriculture. They are very honest people and make their livelihood by hard work.

The Kumhar are generally Hindu and pray to the Lord Shiva, Godess Mother (Mata). They believe in god and are highly spritual, loveable, honest, and hard working.

Prayer Points
- Pray that the gospel will be preached among the Kumhar.
- Ask God to open the hearts of Kumhar nonbelievers and convict them of their need for the Savior.
- Pray that Christian missionaries will find favor with the Indian government and the Kumhar people.
- Ask the Lord to grow the number of Kumhar believers, strengthen them, and encourage them so that their faith endures and their witness is bold and clear.
- Pray that God will give these believers opportunities to share the love of Jesus with their own people.
- Ask God to raise up strong local churches among the Kumhar of India.
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! – Psalm 117:1

Information for this post was gathered from Joshua Project. For more information, check out Operation World.
“The Servant and Slave of Jesus Christ in Chains”

Posted on April 25th, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning

Here’s the latest on Pastor Saeed Abedini, the Iranian-American who was sentenced to eight years in Evin Prison on January 27, 2013. The judge’s decision was based on Abedini’s previous leadership in a network of Christian house churches in Iran, which he deemed to be a threat to national security.

Pastor Saeed remains in Evin Prison, perhaps the worst one in Iran. According to a brief article on Christianity Today’s blog, Gleanings, the pastor’s treatment is worsening, and subsequently, so is his condition. While beatings continue, medical treatment for his wounds is being denied, and due to what is thought to be internal bleeding, he suffers from frequent fainting spells. On top of all this, his cellmates have threatened to suffocate him in his sleep.

The reason for Pastor Saeed’s harsh treatment stems from his faith in Jesus. According to a letter that he sent to his family, he was told, ”Deny your faith in Jesus Christ and return to Islam or else you will not be released from prison. We will make sure you are kept here even after your 8 year sentence is finished.”

Pastor Saeed’s response was Romans 8:35-39:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

“The reality of Christian living is that difficulties or problems do arise in our lives,” Pastor Saeed wrote. “Persecution and difficulties are not new occurrences, but are seen often in the Christian life. It is through the suffering and tribulations that we are to enter the Kingdom of God.”

According to an April 10 news release from the ACLJ, he closed the letter, “Pastor Saeed Abedini, the servant and slave of Jesus Christ in chains, with a lot of joy to see you soon. Evin Prison 9th March 2013.”

Let’s remember to pray for Pastor Saeed – not only for his physical safety and deliverance, but more importantly for endurance to run the race and keep the faith. Let’s pray that by God’s grace, he serves Jesus well in his chains. Also, let’s remember to pray for his wife and two children back at home in the United States. If you want to encourage Pastor Saeed with a letter, go here.
Unreached

Posted on April 22nd, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning
Hui of China

Population: 12,799,000+

Language: Chinese, Mandarin

Religion: Islam (96%)

%Christian/%Evangelical: 0%/0%

Persecution Rank: 37

The Basics: The Hui, made up of at least 13 million people, are the largest and most widespread of China’s Muslim nationalities. They also comprise the third largest minority group in China. Remarkably, Hui live in 2,310 of China’s 2,369 counties and municipalities. Small pockets also live in Taiwan, Myanmar, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Only .006% of them know Christ!

Their Beliefs: To be Hui is to be Muslim – it is the core of who they are. Even if they don’t fully understand it, or even follow it the same as some other countries do, it has been hidden deep inside of them from the time they were very young. For the Hui, Islam is more than just a set of religious beliefs – it is a total way of life.

Their Culture: The Hui are some of the most hospitable people you will ever meet. Some of this comes from just being Chinese, and the rest of it comes from just being Hui. Either way – you never want to visit the Hui on a full stomach! Many of the Hui own restaurants. You can find them in cities all over China and they serve some of the best food you will ever eat. As you walk down the street, you can often recognize the men by their prayer caps and the women by their head scarves. Hui with other Hui are like family. Even if they are strangers, you would never know.

Their Language: Mandarin Chinese is the heart language of the Hui in both spoken and written. But the spiritual language of the Hui is a mixture of Arabic and Persian.

Their History: The Hui are descendants of Muslim traders, soldiers and officials who came to China between the 7th and 14th centuries. They settled and intermarried with Arab Muslims and Han Chinese.

The Situation: Although there are more than 13 million Hui scattered throughout China, very few (including the Chinese church) are intentionally planting their lives among the Hui to tell them about Christ. It is estimated that every five minutes one Hui person dies. Currently, more Hui people are dying daily than are hearing the gospel. The Hui are in desperate need of more laborers to boldly proclaim the gospel and reap the harvest that God has prepared.

Prayer for the Hui
- Pray for laborers called by God to reach the Hui – laborers from other countries as well as Chinese Christians currently living among the Hui.
- Thank God for ongoing gospel proclamation efforts among the Hui. Pray that effective strategies can be identified and implemented to make Christ’s love known to the Hui.
- Pray for God to tear down the barriers that keep the Hui from hearing the Good News of Jesus’ forgiveness and love.
- Pray that Hui believers will gather together and form churches that will multiply.
- Pray for followers of Jesus to boldly proclaim the gospel to the Hui, believing that God is at work among them.
“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!” – Psalm 117:1

Information for this post was gathered from Pray for the Hui, the prayer focus for the most recent Secret Church, and Joshua Project. For even more information, check out Operation World.
Ministry at a Risk

Posted on April 17th, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning

In a recent Open Doors press release, Pastor Edward Awabdeh, of Alliance Church in Damascus, described the situation he and his fellow believers are facing amid the Syrian civil war. “It is risky, yes,” says the pastor. “When you need to drive through the city you run a high risk. Roads are closed. Twenty-four hours a day there is shooting and shelling.”

This leads us to ask, “Why would anyone ever drive through a city in which roads are closed, bullets are flying, and bombshells are exploding?” In Pastor Awabdeh’s view, “This is the time for the church to help; time to support the refugees. Who else can give hope and spread peace than the Lord?”

The help to which he is referring, at least in part, comes in the form of relief packages. As many of the refugees that arrive in Damascus have absolutely nothing with them, it is essential for them to be given food, medical supplies, and other essential items for everyday life. But in order to distribute these relief packages, Alliance Church first has to purchase the items that go inside, and this is where dangerous drives come into play.

“Sometimes it takes two weeks to have enough of a product,” says Pastor Awabdeh. “Sometimes we do this in unconventional ways. For example, instead of buying the oil in small bottles, we buy it in gallons and we fill bottles with oil to distribute. For many products we have to go to the outskirts of the city and that is very risky. Sometimes we make agreements that we pay something extra to have people bring the products, and then it is their risk.”

However the products are secured, risk is involved. Yet the ministry in Syria continues for the Christians that remain. According to a VOM prayer update from April 12, their partners in Syria, like Pastor Edward Awabdeh, are seeing the situation worsen. Recently, a bomb destroyed their apartment and small bookstore, costing them around $10,000 in rent and literature.

“‘Any blessed news? Yes!’ the partner wrote. ‘We are still here, thankful for the protection of our Lord. We had the blessed chance to distribute food packages to 60 families.’ This contact also still has three active Bible classes in the region.”

Let us take a lesson from our Syrian brothers and sisters. We may not be facing bomb shells and gun shots, but are we willing to risk it all for the sake of the ministry God has given us? Are we willing to spread the gospel even when faced with opposition? Are we actively sharing our faith? Sharing this good news, of course, is at the heart of the mission Christ has given to His church in Syria and in the United States. In the words of Pastor Awabdeh, loving people in their suffering is ultimately “a tool to open hearts for the gospel.”

So let’s remember to pray for believers in Syria as they use the tools they have to share the gospel in their war-torn country. At the same time, let’s follow their example and engage in this ministry of gospel proclamation no matter what the risk.

To read more about the situation Syrian Christians are facing, check out Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs.
Unreached

Posted on April 15th, 2013 by Jonathan Lenning
Korean of North Korea

Population: 24,355,000

Language: Korean

Religion: Non-Religious (99.74%)

%Christian/%Evangelical: 1.48%/1.00%

Persecution Rank: 1

About: The Koreans of North and South Korea share distinctive Mongolian features and are believed to have descended from a single racial group. Korean is the national language of both countries. Many Korean words have Chinese roots due to centuries of diplomatic relations. The Korean writing system uses 26 phonetic symbols.

Officially, the North Korean Constitution gives political power to the people. However, real political power belongs to the Communist Party. The constitution guarantees such rights as freedom of the press, religion, and speech; however, the 23.6 million Koreans in North Korea have very little freedom in those areas. For instance, all radio and television broadcasts are strictly controlled by the Korean Central Broadcast Committee. All privately owned radios are “preset” to the government frequency. Current news is often withheld from the public, or even altered. The people often do not learn of news events until weeks, months, or even years after they occurred.

Before the 1900′s, Korea was an agricultural society with strong family ties. Almost all the people lived in small villages and worked on farms. However, since the late 1940′s, the Communists have taken steps to industrialize the country. Today, most urban North Korean work in factories, while those in rural areas continue working on farms.

Arranged marriages are still popular in rural villages. However, a growing number of urban Koreans now choose their own mates. Marital bonds have been so strong in the past that divorce was infrequent-even unthinkable. Today, however, the divorce rate among the educated urban Koreans is steadily increasing; divorce is no longer a disgrace.

Education for the Korean people is free and mandatory for the first 11 years. (This includes a year of preschool.) Students must have Communist Party approval to continue their education after the tenth grade. During their summer vacations, students must work for the state.

In North Korea, the government controls all aspects of Korean life. Most forms of entertainment are supported and controlled by the government. Even the work of artists is restricted. Anything that conflicts with Communist principles is forbidden.

The North Koreans eat mostly rice, occasionally supplemented by fish, vegetables, or fruit. The national dish is kimchi, a highly spiced mixture of Chinese cabbage, white radishes, and various other vegetables. However, after severe flooding in North Korea, there has been an acute food shortage in many areas. Some people have even been forced to eat grass and roots to survive.

What are their beliefs?

A mixture of Confucian thought, Buddhism, and shamanism (belief in an unseen world of gods, demons, and ancestral spirits) were previously dominant among the Korean, but have been officially repressed since 1945. The former North Korean ruler, Kim Il Sung, was held in high regard and worshipped by the Korean. He was presented as omniscient and omnipresent. The regime under Kim Jong Il was as oppressive as the former.

The Koreans believe that deceased family members remain within the family circle, in spiritual form. For this reason, the most important concern of the family is to produce a male heir to carry on the family line. He is called on to perform ancestral rituals in the household and at the family grave site.

Although religious freedom is technically guaranteed by the North Korean government, religious activity is strongly discouraged. Politically, North Korea is one of the most highly controlled societies in the world. The government has officially decided against Christianity and the gospel for the entire nation.

Prayer Points
- Pray that the gospel will be preached in North Korea.
- Ask God to open the hearts of North Korean nonbelievers and convict them of their need for the Savior.
- Pray that the doors of North Korea will soon be open to Christian missionaries.
- Ask the Lord to strengthen and encourage the small number of Korean Christians so that their faith endures and their witness in the face of persecution is bold and clear.
- Pray that God will give these believers opportunities to share the love of Jesus with their own people.
- Ask God to raise up strong local churches among the Korean of North Korea.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10