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Prayer requests from Global Diaspora Forum participants
Please pray for outreach to Jewish-Gentile couples in Europe, South Africa, former Soviet Union countries, Israel and North America during the ongoing High Holy Day season. The season includes Yom Kippur on October 11 and concludes with Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, from October 16-23. Please pray for many of these couples on the fringe of their respective communities to turn to the Messiah Yeshua.
As many people from Hindu traditional backgrounds celebrate major festivals this month (such as Navratri, Dashain, Diwail and Tihar), please pray for them to experience the good news of Christ’s victory over all evil. Pray that whole families will have dreams and visions of the Lord Jesus leading them out of ignorance, darkness and death. Pray that religious leaders will miraculously receive Christ-centered truth and turn to the Light of the world.
Please pray that those affected by Hurricane Matthew in the Caribbean and North America will know the Lord’s provision. In particular, lift up the people of Haiti, who have struggled to rebuild after the 2010 earthquake and cholera outbreak. Pray that the Church will bring hope and encouragement through prayers and actions.
Travel to other countries for medical purposes now includes both majority world patients travelling to Western countries for complex procedures and Western patients travelling to majority world countries for less expensive options. Thank God for the medical professionals who are using their gifts to share God’s love and grace. Please pray that patients will experience complete healing through Christ. There have been alarming reports in China of lethal organ harvesting among those in force labor camps or in prison – including house church members, other persecuted religious groups, and ethnic minorities. Please pray for an end to forced organ donations and organ trafficking.
People living in diaspora have been directly assisting with some Bible translation efforts. For example, a North African poet visited a team in Europe to give a translation of Miriam’s song of praise in Exodus 15 in the poetic style of his language. Praise God! Please pray for God’s wisdom and guidance for translators from the Middle East who are working in North America. Pray for the Lord to speak to and through diaspora Iraqis who are helping make audio Scripture recordings. Pray for protection of translation materials as they travel between team members over the internet or otherwise. Pray that diaspora people groups will quickly be aware of the availability of new Bible translations and recordings in their languages so that the Church may be strengthened.
Please ask God to prepare the way for a global conference for Nepali-speaking Christian leaders planned for March.
A diaspora-focused prayer guide for use during Advent is being prepared. Please pray that the Lord will enable the content and formatting to be swiftly completed. Pray that this guide will be a helpful tool for mobilizing both intercession and action.
Diaspora People Group in Focus: Children
According to UNICEF, about 65 million children are on the move to escape conflict and poverty. The number of unaccompanied child refugees and migrants who have crossed international borders, many from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia and Syria, has tripled in the past two years. Children born to refugee parents are sometimes considered stateless and unable to have access to education, medical care and future employment. In countries devastated by HIV/AIDS, orphaned children seeking to provide for their siblings are vulnerable to trafficking.
Praise God for He has said, “Let the little children come to me.” Pray that children on the move will know the presence of the Lord Jesus with them. Pray that Almighty God will calm the fears of every child who has to flee home. Pray that the Creator will bring smiles and laughter to every child who has known hunger. Pray that our Father will comfort every orphan.
Pray that children on the move will have dreams and visions of Jesus. Pray that churches will be faithful to bring hope to these children and their families. Pray that Christ-followers will be equipped to recognize and help children who have been trafficked. Ask God to raise up powerful intercessors for children on the move among young followers of Jesus.
Country of Diaspora: Bangladesh
Although it is one of poorest countries, Bangladesh has one of the larger diaspora populations. Some migrants include NGO workers involved in development work. Several hundred thousand Urdu-speaking Biharis have lived in Bangladesh since the partition of India in 1947. Another large, marginalized group is the Rohingya from Myanmar (Burma); about 33,000 are registered as refugees, with between 300,000 and 500,000 more not registered. There are also significant numbers of Chinese and Indonesian migrants. Most of the people in Bangladesh are Muslims; religious minorities are increasingly persecuted.
Praise God for the good plans He has for the people living in Bangladesh. Pray that many will see the Lord’s provision in their daily lives. Pray against the exploitation of children into slavery or prostitution. Ask God to strengthen and unite our brothers and sisters in Christ in Bangladesh. Pray that both personal and Bible stories of God’s activity will spread throughout the country.
Pray that Biharis and Rohingyas will hear and experience the good news of God’s kingdom and His eternal country. Pray that Hindus and Buddhists will find peace and protection through Jesus.
(Information gathered from Joshua Project, Operation World, Migration Policy Institute, Newsweek, UNICEF, Dhaka Tribune)