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Praying Globally
Prayer requests from Global Diaspora Forum participants
Please continue to pray for the authors and editors of the diaspora missiology compendium as they revise their chapters and sections based on feedback from the Forum. Ask God to provide a suitable publisher.
Please pray for Israeli Messianic Jews who are traveling to northern India during July and August with the Massah (Hebrew: “Journey”) Project. They are partnering with Indian Christians for outreach to Israeli young adults and post-army trekkers along the lower Himalayan trails. Messianic believers will serve at restaurants and youth hostels along the North India trekking trails. Ask the Spirit to guide them as they engage Israeli young people in conversations around meals, coffee and board games. Pray for softened hearts during spiritual discussions of biblical material and offering of free Hebrew New Testaments. Pray for transformative relationships to continue through social media as people return to Israel.
The United States has the largest population of international migrants; a concerted effort is being made to identify each people group in several major metropolitan areas. Pray for researchers to make significant progress this summer. Pray that local churches, ministry organizations & denominations will use the data to become more effectively mobilized and equipped.
In the first half of 2015, 137,000 migrants arrived in Europe by sea – the largest number on record. The European Union recently agreed to resettle 40,000 over the next two years. Please pray all of these migrants, as well as the thousands more waiting to make the journey, will know the hope, security and abundant life found in Christ. Pray for European churches to be eager and ready to share the good news cross-culturally.
Pray for those developing the educational materials on diaspora mission as part of the Lausanne Global Classroom. Interviews and other segments videotaped at the Forum will also be used for the diaspora mission course. Pray that as people take this course, awareness and involvement in diaspora mission efforts will greatly increase.
Please pray for the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism as they prepare to meet in Jerusalem for their tenth international network meeting during August. They are honoring pioneers of modern Jewish evangelism ministry in Israel. There will be reports on efforts to promote fellowship, cooperation and mutual encouragement between Israeli Jewish and Palestinian believers in Jesus. Conference organizers are aware of threatened anti-missionary efforts, but will convene as planned; pray for God’s protection and strengthening of His people. Please also lift up the speakers.
Thank God for those who are ministering among 3 million Syrian refugees by offering humanitarian aid, logistics help, and emotional and spiritual comfort. Praise Him for turning many hearts toward Christ; may He continue to do so. Pray that the Lord will bring peace and stability.
Praise God for the creativity and skill He has given to those leading Business As Mission efforts. Pray for the financial and spiritual fruitfulness of BAM ventures tied to sustainable long term diaspora mission.
On June 26, a Saudi national suicide-bombed a Shia mosque in Kuwait, a Tunisian gunned down dozens of foreign tourists, and a Frenchman attacked a US-owned factory after beheading a fellow countryman. We recognize that numerous unspeakable atrocities are committed each day and often without being reported. May the Church mourn with those who mourn. Let us plead together for the Lord to have mercy.
Diaspora People in Focus: Koreans
About 7 million Koreans live outside of the Korean peninsula. Most live in either China, USA or Japan, but Koreans can be found on every continent. The majority of diaspora Koreans report to be Christian. Korea also sends the second-largest number of missionaries in the world.
Praise God for giving Korean churches strong commitments to prayer and to missions. May the kingdom of God advance as the Holy Spirit prompts Korean diaspora Christ-followers to pray for the people around them. Ask God to strengthen missionaries from Korea, that they may know both His constant presence in every circumstance and the fellowship and support of the global Church. Pray for North Korean refugees in China to experience the love and shelter of the Lord Jesus. Ask for God’s spiritual protection over Koreans living the Middle East, where Islamic missionaries have been at work. Pray for effective partnerships between Korean churches in diaspora and other churches.
Country of Diaspora: Iran
From ancient times, Iran has played a very influential role in the region. Since the 1979 Revolution, Iran has effectively been ruled by the powerful Islamic leaders and persecution of non-Muslims has increased. Besides having significant numbers of Jews, Zoroastrians, Assyrians and Armenians, Iran is also home to the largest population of Azerbaijanis in the world and around one million refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Praise God for the growth of the Church since 1979; may our brothers and sisters be strengthened and may the hostility of their persecutors be brought to an end. Pray that many more Iranians will follow Christ and grow in maturity through dreams, visions, Bibles and Bible-based literature, and radio, TV and internet material. Please pray for the governmental and Shia religious leaders to humbly acknowledge that their authority is given by the Creator and to rule with justice and integrity as a result. Praise God for the growth of the Church among the Iranian diaspora. Pray for the Spirit to move in mighty ways as scattered Iranian Christ-followers share their faith with loved ones in Iran. Pray for refugees in Iran to encounter Christ, who was also once a refugee and understands their suffering. Praise God for the Azeri translations of the Bible; pray that the Word of God would be honored and spread rapidly among Azeris in Iran.
(Information from Operation World, CNN, Economist)