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Prayer requests from Global Diaspora Forum participants
Please pray for the HimGlo Urban Summit in Pune, India, 6-7 May, for Nepalis in diaspora in the urban areas of India. Pray that younger leaders will be encouraged in the Lord regarding particular issues they face, and that they will be equipped and empowered in their own areas of influence.
We praise God for reports of many Syrians turning to Christ. Please pray that these newly found brothers and sisters will grow in maturity. Ask the Lord to pour out His Spirit upon Syrian refugees so that many peoples in the Middle East and Europe might see Truth. Please also pray for the Lord to have mercy and bring peace to the region.
We also thank God for efforts in the USA, especially in major metropolitan areas, to identify and locate people groups from other nations. Please pray that this research will be effectively communicated and that the Holy Spirit will stir local churches and ministries to action. Pray for the good news of Christ to flourish among all people groups in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Houston.
Please pray for international students in South Africa to realize God’s purpose and good plans for their lives. Pray that they will be like Daniel -- gaining wisdom from the Lord and becoming godly, influential leaders.
As more of the Church awakens to advancing the Kingdom through diaspora, pray that more people will be equipped for building cross-cultural relationships, for ministry which crosses geographic boundaries, and for discerning spiritual hindrances for people from other religious backgrounds.
Please continue to pray that Scattered and Gathered: A Global Compendium of Diaspora Missiology will be used in classrooms and other training settings so that people may be better informed and prepared to engage with diaspora issues.
Ask the Holy Spirit to unite the Body of Christ in prayer for the scattered peoples.
Diaspora People in Focus: Gujaratis
Most of the over 60 million Gujaratis live in India, but several million are scattered in well over a hundred countries. In many places, the Gujarati community has existed for many generations; the prominence of trade in Gujarat likely led to many business-minded people migrating around the world. Large numbers can be found in the UK, the US, Pakistan and several countries in East Africa. Most Gujaratis follow Hindu traditions but a significant number are Jain or Muslim; almost all Gujarati people groups are considered unreached.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth more laborers among the Gujarati diaspora. Pray that they would communicate in such a way that Christ is not seen as a foreigner but as a brother. Pray for local churches in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to intentionally build relationships with their Gujarati neighbors. Pray that the Lord will open the hearts of Gujarati Hindus to pay attention to stories and teachings from the Bible so that, like Lydia and her household, they will welcome Christ. Pray for breakthroughs against spiritual deceit and confusion among Gujarati Muslims living in Madagascar. Pray that Gujarati Jains will receive the forgiveness which purifies hearts. Ask the Lord to strengthen and encourage the small number of Gujarati Christ-followers; pray that they would gain favor and influence in the larger community.
Country of Diaspora: Argentina
According to the UN, about 2 million international migrants live in Argentina, the largest official number in Latin America; the actual number may be twice as high. The Lord has blessed Argentina with many natural resources. The country enjoys considerable religious freedom. Most Argentinians are Catholic, but the occult has widespread, underlying influence.
Praise God for the spiritual hunger in Argentina which has drawn many people to Christ. Pray that Argentinians would increasingly pursue the Lord and be satisfied in Him alone. Ask the Spirit to give unity to the Body. Pray that the chains of spiritual bondage will be broken. Praise God for the many seminaries and Bible schools; pray that God would raise up more spiritual leaders who are committed to discipling others to be leaders and to reaching neglected members of society. Praise the Lord for the widespread distribution of Scripture; pray for the completion of ongoing translation work and pray that every household in Argentina will also have an opportunity to hear from a Christ-follower a personal testimony of God’s work.
Please ask the Lord to defend and bring joy to the region’s indigenous peoples, such as the Chaco, Quechua and Aymara. Pray that Messianic Jewish assemblies in Buenos Aires will be strengthened and grow in faith and in number. Pray that undocumented migrant workers from other South American countries will know the provision of our Heavenly Father for their families. Ask God to push forward church planting efforts among East Asians.
(Information gathered from Etnopedia, Joshua Project, prayafrica.org, Operation World, UN, Global Prayer Digest)