Prayer Assignments for August – Part 2

As summer continues to fly by let us take a moment to remember the nations of the earth that need to know the love of a Savior. We end this month the way we started by committing to pray “until the whole world knows”…… Islam was brought by invading Arab armies in the 7th Century. The once-strong North African, and largely Berber, Church was blotted out. Pride in Morocco’s glorious past as a centre of civilization and Islamic learning, and prejudice against the truths of Scripture are barriers to the acceptance of the gospel. Probably no more than 5% of the population has had personal contact with the gospel.There are great expectations for change through the new King’s efforts to encourage more democracy and improve the economy as well as the lot of the underprivileged. Drought, Islamist activism and the culture of corruption in the bureaucracy all could sabotage this.Moroccans have migrated in large numbers in search of employment – many illegally and dangerously. Over 3,000 have drowned in crossing the Straits of Gibraltar to Spain between 1994 and 1999. There are significant numbers of Moroccans in Europe: in France (approx. 1.5 mill.); The Netherlands (240,000); Belgium (150,000); Spain (113,000 legal and possibly 700,000 illegal); Germany (100,000); and Britain (50,000). Others reside in the Spanish North African enclave cities of Ceuta and Mellila.18-19 Mozambique: Mozambique has had religious freedom for the first time in its history. The Catholic monopoly under Portuguese rule was only breached in the southern third of Mozambique. Protestant ministries were restricted or forbidden. Sporadic but severe persecution of evangelical believers occurred. Under Marxism all Christians suffered. Missionaries were expelled, Christian leaders intimidated and imprisoned, and many churches and institutions seized or destroyed. Discriminatory legislation was passed to limit Christian gatherings to recognized church buildings. Then began the growth. At independence in 1975, Evangelicals were 3.7% of the population. By 2000 this was nearly 12%. The Evangelical Alliance of Mozambique was formed in 1993.
Pray that this growth may be maintained and the believers become a wholesome leaven in a society that is morally bankrupt and where life is cheap and short.

Intense suffering created spiritual hunger and congregations of indigenous Christians mushroomed all over the country. The flooding disasters of 2000 and 2001 stimulated much Christian assistance and churches were planted in refugee camps. Illiteracy, lack of Scriptures, legalism, syncretism and lack of understanding of biblical repentance, faith and the new birth is widespread. Yet the desire for teaching and help, wisely and tactfully given, is immense. Many of the leaders are self-appointed and looking for international links, finances and aid rather than spiritual input. AIM in Beira, and many others in Maputo and elsewhere, have developed mobile and TEE training for leaders of these groups.
Pray that this massive movement might become Bible-based and mature.

20-21 Myanmar: Officially Buddhism is no longer the state religion, but the military regime actively promotes it. Theoretically, there is freedom of religion, but because Christianity is strong among the restive ethnic minorities there is much discrimination against Christians. There have been many cases of enforced conversions to Buddhism and violence against rural Christians. The Persecution index places the nation at 30th in the world.

The isolation of the Church in Myanmar has lasted for 30 years. All Protestant and most Catholic missions were expelled in 1966. Praise God for foundations laid by Adoniram Judson, the famous American Baptist missionary, and those who followed – for on these foundations the Church has grown and become an effective missionary-sending body.
Pray for the removal of restrictions on fellowship with Christians from other lands.

The military regime is seeking to marginalize and even eliminate the Church, yet growth continues. Christianity has been deeply rooted and has grown stronger in adversity. Many Christians are well-educated and are in positions of responsibility all over the country. However, growth slowed during the 1980s because of liberal theology. Growth is now most marked in the newer denominations. The most growth has been among ethnic minorities – the entire northern Chin groups, Lushai Chin, Mara, Matu Chin in southern Chin State and the majority of several Kachin groups (Jingphaw, Rawang), Lisu and Lahu and 40% of the Karen are Christian.
Pray that they may continue to evangelize every sub-group in their respective peoples and reach out to other unreached peoples and to the Burmese majority.
There has been continual warfare since 1942. Since independence, the central government has sought to crush dissension among ethnic minorities. Massive destruction of property and life has deeply affected the Karen, Shan, Wa and Chin peoples particularly. During the 1990s there were up to 2 million refugees – most within Myanmar, and many in India, Bangladesh and Thailand.
Pray for ethnic harmony, effective federalism and peace.

22 Namibia: Namibia for long had the highest percentage of Christians for any country in Africa. The early labours of German and Finnish Lutheran and then Anglican missionaries gave birth to large denominations. The influence of liberal and then black theology eroded that spiritual heritage, and true discipleship and holy living are now in short supply and nominalism widespread. There is a noticeable turning away from Christianity and a lack of openness to the gospel.
Pray for a unity, based on Scripture and bathed in the Spirit, that will bring reconciliation and revival.

Nauru: 21 sq.km. A single coral island once covered with phosphate from fossilized bird droppings 300 km west of Banaba, Kiribati. Offshore banking on the internet is now a major source of income. This is a euphemism for money laundering for Russian crime syndicates – the sums processed are estimated at more than $US 65 billion.
Pray for both the Nauruan and international authorities to courageously tackle this evil that enriches a few criminals and impoverishes millions, bankrupting countries.

The only clearly evangelical witness is through the small but growing Pentecostal Nauru Independent Church. The JESUS film has been seen by almost the whole population.
The wealth of Nauruans contrasts markedly with the relative poverty of surrounding island states. Materialism has sapped the people of spiritual concern. Church life is at a low ebb. There are few evangelical believers. This isolated island paradise of materialism, where everything has been free, may end with the exhaustion of the phosphate deposits. There is low life-expectancy because fresh food cannot be grown locally.
Pray that these realities may cause a turning to God.

23-24 Nepal: The world’s only Hindu Kingdom. Hinduism is recognized as the national religion, but the constitution guarantees some religious freedom for other faiths. People are free to choose their religion but it is illegal to convert others. Any infringing of this is liable to lead to imprisonment for nationals or expulsion of foreigners. Official religion figures of the 1991 census are suspect with minority religions under-represented.

Religious freedom has increased, but is still only partial. Persecution from the authorities was greatly reduced in 1990 with the advent of democracy. All Christian prisoners were released and all pending court cases against over 300 Christians were dismissed. Over the 1990s there have been a number of Christians who have been arrested, imprisoned or even murdered in custody for seeking to preach to Hindus. Increasing Hinduist persecution of Christians in India is impacting official attitudes. Militant Hinduists in Nepal are targeting Christians with virulent propaganda and violence which aims to drive all Christians from the country.
Pray for: a) Full religious freedom to be both guaranteed in the constitution and upheld by the authorities. b) The thwarting of the designs of the extremists and for their eyes to be opened to the Lord Jesus.

25 Netherlands: The Netherlands has two major claims to fame: a) A glorious history as a Christian nation – its fight for religious freedom, ministry to refugees and Jews, and a record of extensive involvement in missions to other lands. b) A decadent present as a secular society that has turned its back on its past. There has been a dramatic decline in the number of Christians in this generation and today’s openly permissive society is renouncing its heritage. There are few restrictions on drugs, deviant life styles, prostitution, homosexuality and abortion. The Netherlands is the first country to legalize euthanasia and has become a world leader in promoting a New Age world-view with its values.
Pray for a revival that restores the nation spiritually. Pray that the government may also be influenced for good.

Netherlands Antilles: Evangelical witness has progressed slowly but steadily. A vital, growing church in every island is a target for prayer. T.E.A.M. has concentrated on evangelism and church planting among the Papiamento-speaking majority. These 12 churches are a large part of the evangelical witness, but Pentecostal and Baptist congregations are also growing.
Pray that the hand of the Lord would guide these evangelistic efforts.

26 New Caledonia: One large 400 km-long island, the Loyalty Islands, and other smaller coral islands 1,400 km north-east of Australia. Bible translation is still a challenge as Melanesian languages regain their status in the school system. There are 7 languages with an established translation need and 21 others need further survey work.
Pray for the ongoing need for research, continuing translation work and the calling and equipping of translation teams.
Pray also that the Scriptures may provide solid foundations for the gospel in each ethnic group.

The Kanak peoples are Christianized and nearly every village has a church, but the traumatic colonial take-over damaged their self-image and led them to confuse the gospel with Western culture. Christianity is often a veneer over the underlying animism of the past. Even many pastors fail to discern between occultist practices and what the gospel teaches.
Pray that a truly biblical yet indigenous Christian witness may be raised up, and the power of the gospel demonstrated over all the power of the evil one.

27 New Zealand: The rapid secularization of society has led to declines among Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists and, to a lesser extent, Catholics. Those with no religion rose from 1.1% in 1951 to 26% in 1996. Church attendance is declining and in 2000 was 14% of the population, but only 19% of attendees are in their 30s, and 8% in their 20s. There is growing interest in New Age religions, but the Church is criticized as too traditional, so the decline is set to continue unless God intervenes. The Presbyterians are sorely divided over such issues as the practice of homosexuality. Earlier Pentecostal and charismatic growth has slowed and the attrition rate is high.
Many Christians pray for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit – pray with them for this.

A Maori cultural revival and compensation for infringements of the 1840 Treaty have impacted the non-Maori majority. Many Maori resent their cultural dislocation which has put them at a social disadvantage – high unemployment, relative poverty, crime, youth gangs, welfare needs are the result. Syncretistic sects such as Ringatu and Ratana as well as the Mormons have gained large followings. Very few attend evangelical churches.
Pray that Maori may find their full cultural blossoming in embracing the fullness of the gospel and pray for a new generation of Maori evangelical leaders to emerge.

28 Nicaragua: Nicaragua remains a deeply divided nation. The traumatic events of 1979-1998 have divided politicians (Sandinista, Contra and democrats), communities (the Hispanic-Mestizo west and Creole-Amerindian east), trade unions, churches and families.
Pray the government would gain the authority and respect of all communities to institute the needed structural, sociological and economic changes.

Missions vision is in its early stage of development. Poverty and disasters have slowed progress. YWAM is being used of God to stimulate this.
Pray for workers for Youth With A Mission as they take on this spiritual challenge.

29 Niger: This Muslim land is open for the gospel, and Muslims are more receptive than ever before, yet response has been small and church growth slow. Islam is strong and well-organized. There is an Islamic university 54km from Niamey. The spiritual effects of folk Islam and demonic oppression are a major hindrance to people coming to Christ
Pray that the land may remain open, and that every social, religious and spiritual barrier to the knowledge of the Lord may be removed.
Significant prayer challenges: a) Many believers are isolated, often illiterate and rarely have systematic Bible teaching available. b) There are not enough mature leaders – there have been a number of denominational splits. c) Leadership training – the EERN (SIM-related) runs two middle-level Bible schools and two basic Bible schools. There are also many small Bible training schools in the country, run by six different denominations.
Pray for effective ways to train more leaders and give further training to those in pastoral work.
30-31 Nigeria: Pray for the unity of Nigeria. The combined effects of ancient tribal hatreds, Muslim conquests, British colonial policy in which the North and South were handled differently and the bitter Biafra war of 1967-70 have left deep scars.

Pray for healing and reconciliation.
The introduction of shari’a law in northern Muslim states is a direct challenge to the federal government and a danger to national stability.
Pray with Nigerian Christians for the preservation of national unity, the integrity of the federal constitution and for full religious freedom.

The culture of greed and corruption runs deep. Nigeria has become infamous for spectacular international scams, international crime and drug-running.
Pray that God may raise up many more who fear Him and have the moral integrity and courage to tackle the rottenness manifest in society.
Pray that Christian values and lifestyle may affect every area of national life and that Nigeria attain its potential as a light to the world for God.

As you have prayed for others may the Lord answer the prayers of your heart.

Blessings,
Lane

Lane M. Holland, M.Div.
Prayer Coordinator
Word Ministries
www.prayers.org

Sources:
Mission Info Bank. Used by permission.
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