The Lord hears and answers. Praise the Lord!
Thank you for lifting up the working consultation on Hybridity, Diaspora and Missio Dei which took place in June in Manila. Praise God for the lively discussions on these emerging topics. Please pray for wisdom as GDN leaders work on organizing a book based on the material presented and feedback given.
Thank you also for praying for Amplify 2018, the Lausanne North American Regional Gathering, which featured a diaspora track. Please pray for the formation process of a diaspora strategy group for North America – the region with the most total international migrants.
Two years ago, we asked for prayer as a course on diaspora was produced through the Lausanne Global Classroom. Praise God for His faithfulness: the course is now available for free online. Please pray for provision for the materials to be translated from English into other languages.
Prayer requests from Global Diaspora Forum participants
Recent violence along ethnic and religious lines in central Nigeria’s Plateau State has led to the deaths of around 200 Christians and thousands of suddenly internally displaced people. Please pray for God’s intervention to end the violence and bring about lasting peace. (see Micah 4:3-4)
Please pray for many Jewish peoples to turn to the Messiah during the upcoming High Holy Days through conversations with Messianic Jews and non-Jewish followers of Christ. Pray for their hearts to be softened as they prepare for Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 8-10) and Yom Kippur (Sept. 18/19). Pray that many families will recognize the Lord dwelling among us during Sukkot (Feast of Booths, Sept. 23-30). (see Romans 11:11-12)
About 80% of the world are oral communicators, or people who prefer to give and receive information through the spoken word over the written word. Please pray for efforts to train the Body in oral methods for sharing the good news, equipping for ministry and mobilizing for prayer, such as the International Orality Network’s North American Regional conference in mid-September and the Africa consultation in late November. (see Psalm 66:16)
A new set of laws in Denmark aims to ensure immigrants assimilate into Danish culture; these laws require children above 1 year old in certain immigrant families to be separated from their parents at least 25 waking hours per week. Pray that Danish churches will demonstrate the love of God for the sojourner (see Deuteronomy 10:18-19).
Recently the leader of a large house church network in China, Pastor Ezra Jin, shared about Mission China 2030: the sending of 20,000 Chinese missionaries to unreached people groups by 2030. As the Chinese government wants to more aggressively monitor and restrict churches and church activities in China, Pastor Jin also asked for more Christ-followers around the world to stand publicly with our brothers and sisters in China (which is why we are naming him here). Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth these laborers full of the Spirit, devoted to the Word and prayer. Pray that the Body will stand with her members in China (see John 13:35 and Hebrews 10:35).
On the Move: Cultural Hybrids
Hybridity is the mixing of “blood” or the mixing of cultures; cultural hybridity through cultural mixing and inter-ethnic marriages has been accelerating and intensifying.
Moses and Esther were raised in cultures where their ethnic group was oppressed or a minority. The Lord positioned both to bring deliverance to many. Pray for “third culture” people to lead tribes and nations to Christ.
Hiram’s mother was an Israelite widow and his father was a bronze worker from Tyre. He was specifically chosen to make the temple furnishings (see 1 Kings 7:13-44). Pray for people of mixed ethnicities to use their skills, experiences and gifts for God’s glory.
Timothy’s mother was a Jewish follower of Jesus and his father was a Greek. Paul circumcised Timothy so they might minister together more freely among both Jews and Gentiles (see Acts 16:1-3). Pray for ethnic and cultural hybrids to be willing to make major adjustments so that others can hear the good news.
Strategic Gathering: Mecca during Hajj
Over two million Muslims from around the world will likely be in Mecca for the Hajj during August 19-24. The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. The largest numbers of pilgrims are from Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Other Muslims will watch online as those in Mecca perform various rituals out of obedience to their faith and in hopes of receiving forgiveness and pleasing God.
The ending of the hajj is marked by the festival of Eid al-Adha on August 21/22, which recalls Abraham’s willingness to obey God and sacrifice his son and God’s provision of an animal as substitute. Eid is celebrated around the world.
A recent Conde Nast Traveler article quoted a man who had completed the hajj: “You may complete the rituals, but you have not completed hajj, because you have transgressed the duties in a way that you have ignored the most important things, which is humanity. Kindness. Showing respect to others and taking their needs into account.”
Pray that false ideas of how to obtain forgiveness or please God will be exposed, dismantled and replaced with truth (see Isaiah 58:6-12).
Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to Muslims in Mecca – through dreams and visions, Scripture, and the Body – and to compel them to share with others. Pray for entire communities to turn to Christ (see John 4:25-29).
Pray for Christ-followers living in Saudi Arabia and for those working in the travel industry worldwide to intercede for and demonstrate God’s grace toward hajj travelers (see Acts 9:10-17).
Please pray for many Muslims to turn to the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, during Eid (see John 1:29).
(Please see PrayforAP.com for a free, 3 day prayer guide during Hajj in English, Arabic, Chinese and Korean.)
(Information gathered from New York Times, Orality.net, Africa News, PrayforAP.com, quote taken from Conde Nast Traveler)