The Lord hears and answers. Praise the Lord!
Praise God for the formation of the Lausanne North America diaspora strategy group. This group had their initial meeting in August and set forth several clear tasks for the next few months toward the goal of clearly communicating God’s heart for and among the diaspora groups in North America.
Thank the Lord that the revised diaspora missiology compendium is scheduled to be available early next year. We thank Him that this resource may continue to bless the Church.
Prayer requests from Global Diaspora Forum participants
Many Jewish peoples will observe Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, beginning at sunset on October 8, by fasting and praying. People are encouraged to reflect and seek forgiveness in the time leading up to this day (described in Lev. 23). Please pray for the opening of eyes to see how the Lord has provided atonement and forgiveness through Yeshua (see Psalm 65:2-3). Please also pray that video testimonies of Messianic Jews shared on websites such as Have You Heard will help many Jewish peoples hear the truth about Yeshua.
The third annual Hindu World Prayer Guide, for use October 20-November 3, will help Christ-followers worldwide to unite in prayer for Hindus as many celebrate the festival of Diwali. Highlighted in the prayer guide this year are the significance of four major pilgrimage sites and several stories involving the Hindu diaspora. Please pray that as people pray for Hindus on the move, the Light of the world will shine into the hearts of many individuals, families and communities (see 2 Corinthians 4:6).
The Global Sikh Consultation will be held October 22–25, in Edmonton, Canada. May the Lord give wisdom and empower the organizing committee as they finalize plans. Pray for the Lord’s favor and provision that visa applications may be approved in a timely way and that participants may arrive safely. Please ask the Holy Spirit to anoint the speakers as they share. Pray for the Spirit to guide all conversations, deliberations and decisions and to give unity and clear purpose so that the participants will know what ought to be done (see 1 Chronicles 12:32).
The South Asian Diaspora Consultation will be November 4-7 in Bangalore, India. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead this time of praying, examining the scriptures and sharing. Please pray for a fruitful conversation on trends in global migration. Pray that those gathered will learn from each other regarding opportunities for engagement and that they will develop a network for the South Asian diaspora. Ask God our Defender to surround the participants and the venue (see Psalm 125:2).
For many followers of Jesus, the Christmas season represents a time to celebrate Jesus’s arrival as a humble baby and to look forward to His return as a majestic King. It also offers many opportunities to share Christ with others and to display unity in Him. Please pray that diaspora and host country Christ-followers will find ways to celebrate together and bless their local communities with words and actions (see John 17:21).
On the Move: Sikhs
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak in Punjab, India in the 15th century. Sikhs traditionally believe in one God and reincarnation; living a moral life and meditating on the guru’s word are emphasized. The word “sikh” comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “disciple.” Today, perhaps 27 million Sikhs live in at least 52 countries. One in ten Sikhs live outside India, with larger communities in Canada (particularly Vancouver), the UK (especially London), East Africa and Southeast Asia.
The Church has made too few efforts to understand Sikh beliefs or share the good news with Sikhs. Please offer a prayer of repentance and ask God to forgive us.
Pray against the god of “religion” which keeps Sikhs from acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Pray that Sikhs in every nation would hear the Lord Jesus say, “Come, follow me.”
Ask God to stir up the hearts of Christ-followers around the world, including Punjabis in Vancouver and London, to raise the banner of Jesus Christ among the Sikhs. May Sikhs be counted in the Lord’s inheritance (see Psalm 2:8).
Strategic Gathering: Brunei
Brunei Darussalam means “Brunei, the Abode of Peace.” This small, rich nation is on the island of Borneo and made of two areas separated by a Malaysian state. Islam is the official religion; legal allowances for religious freedom are not always followed in practice. About one-fourth of the population are immigrants, mostly from Asia. Another 15% are Chinese, most of whom are stateless because it is very difficult to pass the language requirements for citizenship.
Praise the Lord for blessing Brunei with abundance. Pray for the sultan’s family and the whole country to welcome the Prince of Peace.
Please pray for the stateless Chinese living in Brunei to receive heavenly citizenship. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth Chinese business workers to reach out to the Chinese community in Brunei.
Ask God to make Himself known among all the people groups in Brunei. The immigrants are, as Operation World describes, “Muslim Bangladeshis and Indonesians, Hindu Indians and Nepalis. . ., Buddhist Thai and Catholic Filipinos.” Pray that each one will understand that they can draw close to the Lord (see Acts 10:34-35).
(Information gathered from Operation World, Migration Policy Institute, Joshua Project, GSC prayer team and Sikh Missionary Society)