The Lord hears and answers. Praise the Lord!
Praise God for reports of significant movements to Christ among several unreached people groups we have highlighted in previous newsletters: the Fulani (September 2016), Iraqis (most recently mentioned in April 2018), Syrians (first featured in July 2013) and Tuareg (March 2014). We thank God for these movements and ask for more!
We thank the Lord that a key diaspora resource, the booklet Scattered to Gather, has been or is being translated into Korean, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese. May the Lord and His purposes be honored as it is read. Please pray for more diaspora-related resources to be available in multiple languages.
We thank God for the many ways the love of Christ was shared to or through diaspora people during the Christmas season. Please pray for people to be reminded of truths they heard and to desire to follow Christ.
Prayer requests from Global Diaspora Forum participants
In mid-January, several GDN leaders will be presenting at “Beyond Hospitality,” a Jaffray-Ang Symposium centered on diaspora in Canada, which has the 8th largest population of international migrants. Please pray for the discussion to effectively encourage local churches toward being in community with diaspora peoples.
A new prayer guide, 15 Days of Prayer for Buddhist World, is now available to help unite Christ-followers globally to pray for and bless over 1 billion Buddhists. Please pray that more translations will be available soon. Pray for many Buddhists to know peace beyond understanding.
Please pray for God’s presence to be evident at a worship training gathering for Himalayan leaders in mid-January. Pray that each person will draw closer to the Lord and become better equipped with practical skills so that when they return their times of worship may be like shining “cities of refuge” in the midst of spiritual darkness.
The flurry of travel for Chinese New Year (February 5) has been called the world’s largest human migration. Many people working in Chinese cities will return to their rural villages; for some families, this is the only time of the year the parents see their children. Many Chinese churches abroad have special outreaches during this time. Please pray for many Chinese people to experience God’s blessings for them through Jesus. Pray for Chinese Christ-followers to have boldness to share their faith with their relatives when prompted by the Spirit.
Please ask God to guide GDN leaders through the processes of publishing a revised edition of Scattered and Gathered: A Global Compendium of Diaspora Missiology as well as publishing the compilation of articles from last year’s consultation on hybridity, diaspora and Missio Dei.
Please pray for smooth preparations for a several events planned for June: a consultation in Liverpool, England, entitled “Christians from Global South and Diaspora Missions in Europe”; a Korean diaspora leadership summit in Germany; and the Lausanne Global Workplace Forum in Manila, which will include diaspora-related workshops. Pray that these events and others being planned will lead to more fruitful partnerships and ministries.
On the Move: Cambodians
In the 1970s and 80s, many Cambodians fled violence and were resettled as refugees in the US, France, Australia and other nations. The diaspora communities which emerged from these refugees tend to continue to be politically active in Cambodia. Today, it is poverty which leads Cambodians to seek opportunities elsewhere. An estimated 1.5 million Cambodians are in Thailand alone. Other significant numbers are in Bangladesh, Canada, Korea and Malaysia. Desperate families have become victims to human trafficking, “for-profit” orphanages, and forced prostitution.
Praise God who works all things together for good. Thank Him for bringing many Cambodian refugees to faith in Jesus in the past. Pray that the Lord will also meet with Cambodians who have been trafficked or separated from their families. Pray that the God of all comfort will bind up the broken hearts and troubled minds of all generations of Cambodians around the world, traumatized by previous conflicts. Pray that Cambodian diaspora followers of Christ will be agents of reconciliation and blessing for Cambodia and the countries where they live. (see Romans 8:28, Psalm 147:3, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
People Coming: Uganda
Uganda has the second largest refugee population, including nearly 800,000 people from South Sudan and 284,000 from DR Congo. While Indians were expelled under Idi Amin, more than 20,000 are in Uganda now; many are economic leaders and some wish to be officially recognized as a tribe. Chinese investment in business and expanding infrastructure has led up to 50,000 Chinese to Uganda. Almost half of the country is under 14 years old.
Praise God for the Church’s strong presence in Uganda; may the Lord give unity among His people. Pray for the Spirit to bring revival in churches and true transformation among nominal believers. Pray for children in Uganda to receive Jesus and become children of God, maturing into men and women after the Father’s own heart. Ask for God’s blessings as Uganda welcomes refugees in ways which reflect that many Ugandans were once sojourners due to conflict. Please pray that every people group in Uganda will hear and declare in their own languages the mighty works of God. (see John 1:12, Exodus 23:9, Acts 2:11)
(Information gathered from Operation World, Migration Policy Institute, VOA Khmer, UCANews, 15 Days of Prayer for Buddhist World, United Nations, Daily Monitor, Wikipedia)