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The Lord hears and answers. Praise the Lord!
We thank God for the fruitful time at the Asia Theological Association’s assembly. Asia is a center for migration (both receiving and sending out) and for religious strongholds; we look forward to seeing long-lasting effects on the Church’s involvement with diaspora. Please pray that the Lord will speak to His people regarding migration and diaspora at the 9th Chinese Congress on World Evangelization, scheduled for August 22-26 in Taipei.
Prayer requests from Global Diaspora Forum participants
Please pray for the Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering, which will conclude August 10 in Jakarta. Pray that GDN leaders and Forum participants in attendance will encourage the Church to fully engage the missional opportunities of diaspora. Pray that all will clearly hear from the Lord and be covered by His hand.
The violent clashes in South Sudan has led to a flood of refugees into Uganda. Please pray for a lasting peace to come quickly to South Sudan. Pray that South Sudanese will know the presence and provision of the God who sees them. Pray for Ugandan churches to become more active in ministering among refugees.
Please pray for the Lord to be exalted above every other name during the Summer Olympics from August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro. Pray for a hedge of protection – from sickness, violence and all other evil – around the athletes, spectators and workers. Pray against the work of human traffickers and ask for the liberation of those enslaved. Pray for all brothers and sisters in Rio to be led by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news of Christ and to demonstrate the reign of His Kingdom through their prayers and actions. Pray that many people will turn to the Lord Jesus for lasting peace and fellowship.
Please continue to pray for the American and Australian Messianic Jews who are partnering with Indian Christ-followers to reach Israeli post-army trekkers in northern India. May the Holy Spirit give them unity as a team this month. Pray also for health and energy as they travel. Pray that, like the Emmaus road travelers in Luke 24, many Israelis will have their eyes opened and recognize the Messiah.
Please pray for the family conference from August 26-29 in Birmingham hosted by the largest Nigerian Christian diaspora group in the UK and Ireland. Pray that the conference will awaken in the participants the urgent need to effectively engage the huge harvest both in their context and to the ends of the earth. Ask God to equip all conferees to respond in relevant ways to the growing numbers of Muslims and refugees in Europe.
The economic situation in Saudi Arabia has led to thousands of Indian nationals there losing their jobs. Some have been unable to buy food, much less buy a plane ticket home. Please pray for these Indians to know the provision of the Heavenly Father for all their needs. Pray that Christ-followers in Saudi Arabia will extend hospitality and compassion.
Venezuela is facing an economic crisis. Last month, tens of thousands of Venezuelans walked to Colombia each day the border was temporarily opened in order to buy food, medicine and other needed supplies. Pray that churches in Colombia will give generously to help their neighbors. Pray that Venezuelans who follow Christ will witness miracles of their supplies multiplying or not running out. Pray that many will turn to the Lord and trust in Him alone; may the Lord heal Venezuela.
Vision 50:15 is the goal of sending forth 50,000 Nigerian missionaries throughout North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and back to Jerusalem by 2020. Please pray for Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA) as they seek to spur the Nigerian Christian diaspora to more active participation in Vision 50:15. Pray for favor and provision as NEMA leaders meet with leaders in the UK and USA to plan a diaspora summit. Pray that God will establish a highway of holiness from Nigeria to Jerusalem.
Many Filipinos in Israel are caregivers for the elderly or other domestic workers. Please pray for the training partnerships developing between Israeli Messianic Jews and Filipino ministries. May the prayers of Filipino domestic workers in Israel be powerful and effective.
A diaspora-focused prayer guide for use during Advent is being prepared. Please pray that the Lord will give the wisdom, insight and personal connections needed to complete the content by the end of this month. Pray that many people around the world will unite in prayer for diaspora peoples and issues and that we will see God’s Kingdom advance in amazing ways.
Diaspora People Group in Focus: Nepalis
Nearly every family in Nepal has at least one member working in another country. Most are in India, with large concentrations in and near Sikkim. The reputation of Gurkha soldiers has brought Nepalis to places such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, the UK and US. Other major groups of Nepalis include migrant workers in the Arabian Peninsula and resettled refugees mostly in North America and Europe. Most Nepalis in diaspora are Hindu but a significant minority are Buddhists (such as Tamang and Gurung people groups) and a growing number follow Lord Jesus.
Praise God for the growth of the Church in the Nepali diaspora. Pray for an end to the pervasive idea, real or perceived, that following Jesus means no longer being Nepali. Pray that Nepalis of all religious backgrounds will recognize Lord Jesus as their big brother and His authority in the spiritual realm.
Country of Diaspora: Turkey – Prayer video for Turkey
A leading destination for international migrants, Turkey is also a major travel hub. Turkey sees migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia seeking to enter Europe and would-be jihadists from Europe and North America seeking to join ISIS/Daesh. The president of Turkey’s swift, ongoing response to July’s failed attempted coup seems to be positioning the officially secular country to legally shift to a more Islamic nation.
Pray that Turkey’s open door will not be shut, so that the good news may be shared not only among Turks but also among Central Asians, Iranians, Kurds, Romanis and the many travelers passing through. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Turkey to be strengthened; may they patiently endure persecution and prove to be conquerors (see Rev. 2-3). Pray that the startling recent events will lead many to build their lives upon the firm foundation of Christ.
(Information gathered from Joshua Project, Operation World, BBC News and Prayercast)