WEDNESDAY WINDOW ON THE WORLD 12.03.08

KURDS OF IRAN. S, a Sorani Kurdish believer for whom you have been praying, has been released after several weeks of being in jail. He was beaten multiple times, and asked many times about his work, ministry and association with other believers in Iran. Since his release, he has been recovering physically, mentally and emotionally. He stated that this experience brought him face to face with his faith, and he has a much deeper understanding of God’s grace and protection. Please continue praying for S and for the other Kurdish believers with whom he ministers. Pray that the Kurdish church in Iran will grow as a result of S’s experience. Give thanks to the Lord that MR, another Kurdish believer in Iran for whom you have been interceding, has been released after many months in jail. Like S, MR also is recovering from physical, mental and emotional abuse from his time in jail. MR also has communicated that his faith has been sustained and strengthened through this suffering and persecution. Pray that MR, his family, and the Kurdish believers they work with will be encouraged in their faith. Pray that Kurdish churches will grow as a result of MR’s experience. doulos@comcast.net; http://centralasia.imb.org/

MISSIONS MOBILIZATION OF BRAZIL. The Mobilization Team in Belem asks: “Continue to pray for missionary Paul Lambach at the Equatorial Baptist Theological Seminary and the number of seminary students involved in practical ministry experiences. Pray specifically for continued enthusiasm for missions during some administrative changes at the seminary; follow up on the new disciples made during the Tent of Hope ministry project; three key student leaders who are responsible for student ministries in the community; students in the mission club who have acknowledged a calling and are studying ‘Experiencing God’; student-led ministries in local businesses; and mission trips to involve students in planting a church in an island community. Pray especially for Paul, asking that God will continue to give him great strength, courage and wisdom as he leads his family (both in Brazil and in the United States) as well as motivates, challenges and teaches students at the seminary and at the Agulha Bible Institute.”

NSENGA OF ZAMBIA AND MOZAMBIQUE (n-SANG-uh). Missionary Joy Helgren writes: “I will never forget the day I met her. She greeted me with a huge smile on her face that magnified her chipped front tooth. Her skin was as black as night, and as soft as linen. Her wrinkles were symmetrical and told stories of her life with every expression that came to her face. Her laugh was contagious and her joy abundant. As time passed, I learned that she was a widow and a piece worker (she plows and harvests others’ fields for money). One day in a conversation, I asked her a question about how she viewed God. This was her response: ‘Before you came to Nyimba, I knew many gods of tradition and witchcraft, but you have come and told me about the real God and that He loves me.’ I will never forget the day I met her--she is the face and the voice of the Nsenga. Pray that the Nsenga will desire to know more about Jesus Christ and to live a life for Him and not African traditions. As you prepare to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering this month, pray with an open heart about how God wants you to give in obedience to His call. Remember that as you give, you are seeing to it that all peoples in every nation will be around the Throne one day. Just think: The Nsenga will thank you one day for your gift of giving so that missionaries like us could tell them about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for them!”

METROPOLITAN CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (SEE-oo-dahd HWAH-rez). “God is answering your prayers for southeast Juarez,” writes the Churches Without Borders Team. “You were asked to pray that new cells would be formed and new leaders would be identified and trained to impact this growing side of the city. Two members of our leadership team have started another cell group in a vacant house. Our team is also beginning to identify some church members who have real potential for leading new cells and house churches. Ask God to multiply our cells and leadership teams.” http://www.macregion.org/

MALAWI. “During November, several missionary families come together and we celebrate Thanksgiving similar to what we had with families in the United States. As American missionaries serving in Lilongwe, Malawi, we have so many things for which to be thankful. The government offers many freedoms, we have Christian friends and colleagues among nationals who are co-laborers in the task, and we have prayer partners who are faithful. Ask God to use this special holiday time to remind us of the greatest reason to give thanks and the reason to be about the Father’s business: that Jesus Christ is the one and only Way for us to have life abundant and eternal. Pray that we will see the opportunities God gives each day and have the courage to speak boldly about our Lord Jesus.” matjanetlawrence@gmail.com

JAPAN. The prefectural capital of Hokkaido, Sapporo, has a population of 2 million-plus. The Japan Cities, Towns and Villages Cluster has requested two couples to come and serve in this city. There is one Christian Japanese couple, MO and MA, who are being discipled long distance and who worship via Skype with missionaries on the main island of Japan where Tokyo is located. Pray for God to send laborers to disciple MO and MA and to share the gospel with the people of Sapporo. Hokkaido is snow country, and snow covers the ground from December to late April. The personnel would need to deal not only with the cold, but also with isolation. Pray for God to call out young people with a pioneer spirit and a burden and love for the people of Sapporo. Ask Him also to raise up laborers here in Japan to work with MO and MA to reach the city of Sapporo for Christ. http://www.outreachjapan.org/

 

 

YOUTH ON MISSION PRAYER REQUESTS

 

GIVE THANKS

 

What if you were an American in a foreign country?  What would you do for Thanksgiving?  None of your neighbors even know it’s a holiday.  And no one has jellied cranberry sauce at the store!

 

The turkey may have to be a chicken and the pies baked in a tiny toaster oven. It doesn’t matter.  Americans living in other countries find a way to celebrate Thanksgiving. I remember the year we got all of our American friends together.  Everyone made something and we had a big feast.  Better than the food?  We all loved each other. We were thankful for the family of Christian friends God gave us…AND for the jellied cranberry sauce sent from America.

 

Christians living in foreign countries can feel lonely on holidays.  Ask God to give them good friends.  Lots of Christians will invite their neighbors over for dinner.  Please pray that they will be able to tell their friends and their neighbors about how God provides for them.  Pray that they will be able to talk about Jesus.  Give thanks for everything God has done for you!

 

MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS

 

There aren’t a lot of Christians where I live, so good influences are hard to find. Pray that I can hold on to Christ as I minister to people because it is easy to be pulled down when trying to lift up others. RUTH ANNE, age 14, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

 

I pray that I will meet new friends everywhere I go.  And pray my grandfather’s hip to get healed very soon. JAROD, age 7 (South Asia)

 

Pray for my American friends

CHLOE, age 6 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

 

Pray that my friends will become Christians. Pray for my sister and I to continue to learn French and Creole better. Pray for us to have a real fun time and to learn a lot at the schools we go to. Pray for my sister and me to meet and make more friends. SEAN, age 5, (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)

 

Pray for the sick and poor and old and dying—that's what I want you to do. ISAIAH, age 11 (Pacific Rim)

 

Please pray for my friends in Portugal to get to know Jesus.  ELISABETH, age 10, (Western Europe)

 

I have some friends that are stuck in America because of visa problems.  I miss them a lot and now I can’t see them until January.  Please pray that they would be okay.  KA, age 11 (East Asia)

 

In Indian families, the parents or grandparents are the head of the family.  In our friend’s family, a woman is Christian and sharing to her husband; but the husband’s mom is a strong Hindu and against Christians.  The man wants to be a Christian, but he will lose everything if he comes to God.  Pray he will know God will provide if he believes and trusts in Him.  Also pray that the man’s mom will come to Christ and accept them as Christians. AMANDA, age 12 (South Asia)

 

GOOD NEWS NOW

A 15-year-old girl in Sri Lanka asked God to help her learn how to tell others about Jesus.  Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia near India. God heard her prayer and gave her a chance to go to a class called “Good News Now.”  She learned how to tell others about Jesus then went out to tell her friends and neighbors.  She led more than 20 people to the Lord in just three months! Pray for her as se continue to share the Good News Now---and pray that we will follow her example here and NOW in the USA! Pray also for the new believers to become more like Jesus each day, and share the GOOD NEWS with their families and friends.

 

 

NAMB (North American Mission Board) Requests

 

12/3/08 Dave and Kim Shoffner
david.l.shoffner@us.army.mil
Dave is an Army division chaplain being deployed to the Middle East. Pray for Dave as he ministers to the soldiers defending our country and serving away from their families. Pray for Dave's family while he is away and pray for his safe return home. 

 

12/4/08 Lorna Fike
2717 Rio Grande St.
Austin, TX 78705
lfike@swbell.net
austinprc.org

Lorna is a MSC serving the Austin Pregnancy Resource Center. Pray God will open the hearts of clients to choose the Lord and life for their babies. Pray for God's provisions for the center and for Him to guide, equip, and protect Lorna.

 

12/5/08 Mark and Judy Madison                  
12401 S. 450 E. #G-2
Draper, UT 84020
mmadison@slba.org
slba.org

Mark is director of disaster relief serving the Salt Lake Association. Pray that God continues to equip and use him in meeting the needs of those impacted by disaster. Also pray for God’s continued provision for his family and pray for a 20-foot cargo trailer to expand the ministry. 

 

12/6/08 John Little
1946 Haycamp Ln.
Rapid City, SD 57703

revlittlejohn@gmail.com
John is a church planting strategist working with the Dakota Convention. Pray for planter pastors to move to the Dakotas and for church starts in the Black Hills. Pray also for a vehicle to pull a sound equipment trailer. 

 

12/7/08 Dave and Tammy Hall     
1317 W. St. Clair St.
Vandalia, IL 62471

dave6402@gmail.com
Dave and Tammy are church planters serving the Illinois Association. Pray for God’s guidance and calling of musicians for a talented praise and worship team for a new church, Grace Community Fellowship. 

 

12/8/08 Donald Mosley
2500 S. Avon-Belden Rd.
Grafton, OH 44044

donald.mosley@odrc.state.oh.us

Donald is a chaplain at Grafton Correctional Institution (GCI). Pray for the employees and chaplains facing job loss and his successful Faith-Based Family Program. Pray for God’s blessing for the inmates, their families, staff, and volunteers. Pray for the new faith-based mentorship program, and that Southern Baptist men will mentor men approaching release.

12/9/08 Billy and Audrey Morehead           
803 Seventh Ave.
Cleveland, MS 38732
mscyarpers@bellsouth.net
Billy and Audrey are MSC prayer strategists serving the Mississippi Convention. Pray for a strong prayer force in Mississippi and for submissions of prayer requests to "MSCYarpers", an email prayergram. Pray for strength and health for Billy and Audrey.

12/10/08 Terry Partin     
terry.partin@us.army.mil
Terry is an Army National Guard chaplain in Tupelo, Mississippi. Pray for the combat team deploying early in 2009 with six or seven chaplains. Several are traditional guardsmen who are also pastors. Pray for courage and Holy Spirit insight for these deploying chaplains, and that through them, many will come to know Christ!

 

 

EMBRACE BALTMORE: Please remember the following Embrace Baltimore requests.

 

Baltimore Pastors: Pray for God’s protection over their families.

Pray for Gods’ favor to rest on their ministries.

Pray for Gods’ power to infiltrate their lives.

Pray for a fruitful harvest in their communities.

Embrace Baltimore Staff: Pray for Theresa Sassard who is out of our offices till December due to surgery and radiation treatment for cancer.

Pray for our staff as many of them are traveling for work and the holidays.

Pray for a time of rest and encouragement for our EB staff as they spend time with their families.

Church Starting: Pray that there are new church starts in Baltimore and those who will lead in these endeavors.

Pray that there will be a spiritual awakening in Baltimore.

Community Impact: Please pray for each CI pastor and their families during this holiday season.

Pray for the communities in Baltimore that are being touched by these churches. That as the churches go out and minister and serve their communities they can really build a bridge to connect people to God.

Evangelism: Please pray that our churches would have a fruitful holiday season with evangelistic outreach events. Please pray for churches to be pro active in early planning for 2009.

Mobilization: Pray for upcoming trips to meet with several colleges and college ministers to promote partnerships for 2009 volunteer trips to Baltimore.

Pray for guidance as we begin to facilitate partnerships between national volunteers and local churches.

 

 

 

 

WMBC ON MISSION REQUESTS:  Please pray for Tobey Pitman at Brantley Baptist Center, 201 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, 1-504-523-5761, tpitman@prodigy.net. You may also encourage Tobey with a note, card, or letter to let him know you are praying for him. Ask Tobey for his specific prayer needs. WMBC is reaching out to Tobey through Operation NOAH of the North American Mission Board.

PRAY for the following WMBC mission outreaches:

            Sunday, 6-8:00 PM:      Conversational Spanish class @ WMBC

Wednesday, 8:30 PM:   Hispanic Bible study/ESL in Park Heights

Thursday, 7:30 PM:      LLC outreach in E Baltimore; ESL ministry with Chinese students in Wyman Park

            Saturday, 8:30 AM:       Prison ministry in Towson

            First Saturday /month: Ministry at Genesis Healthcare Perring Parkway Center

 

1-     Pray for John and Peggy Burghauser as they serve in the Stauros ministry.

2-     Prison Ministry: Pray for John Burghauser, Rich Hilbert, Chris Robinson, Charles Sowder, Bill Talbott who minister at the Baltimore County Men’s Detention Center on Saturdays.

3-     Pray for the Nepali church in Towson meeting at Govans Boundary United Methodist Church.

4-   Pray for our missionaries Courtney and Arleen as they minister in Suriname. Remember that Courtney is

      also the director of IMB missions for the whole Mid-Atlantic Caribbean (MAC) region.

5-   Compassion: Pray for Compassion children sponsored by our church family.  Many of our children are in       areas suffering severe drought, and without Compassion they would be facing starvation.  Pray for         Compassion as it responds to the hunger crisis in these areas.

6-   Pray for the ERC (Evangelism Response Center) and Billy Graham Telephone Ministries. Dec 6 and Dec 12 are the dates for ministry at Beachmont. Remember to pray for the ERC which is also a 24-            hour      spiritual help line: 1-888-JESUS20

 7-  Remember our missionaries Gary and Brenda Hunter as they’re in Texas now, prepariong for their return to Trinidad. Pray that they will be granted visas.

8-   Pray for ESL students who returned to their home country this summer, that God would continue to put   believers into their paths and bring them into His kingdom.

9-   Pray for ministry this fall to the youth in our communities, especially through outreach at Joppa View       Elementary and the Liberty Learning Center (LLC).  Ask God if you should become a tutor or mentor to    needy youth.  Also pray for Pastor Andy and the Bible clubs at Pine Grove and Perry Hall Middle Schools.

10-  Ask God to expand the missionary vision of WMBC! 

 

 

THE PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER TEAM

Give thanks for a good weekend of refreshment and rest at Camp David, MD for President and Mrs. Bush, prior to their return to Washington on Saturday.  Pray for continued spiritual refreshment.    

Pray for President and Mrs. Bush as they take part in a Saddleback Church Civil Forum on Global Health in Washington, D.C. on December 1, together with Rev. Rick and Mrs. Kay Warren.  Pray for both couples as they discuss current and future efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.  Rev. Warren will award President Bush with the International Medal of Peace on behalf of the Global Peace Coalition during a special event recognizing World AIDS Day at the Newseum in Washington, also on December 1.    Pray for God’s presence, blessing and joy during this event, and pray that many more persons will gain understanding about HIV/AIDS and ways to prevent it both here and abroad.  Earlier that day President and Mrs. Bush will also present the World AIDS Day Ribbon on the North Portico of the White House. 

Pray for President Bush as he continues to work with Treasury Secretary Paulson and Timothy Geithner, President Elect Obama’s appointee to the position of Treasury Secretary, on all possible means to improve the struggling economy.  Pray for godly wisdom in every plan that is considered and made. 

Give thanks for the appointment by President Elect Obama of the members of his economic team:  Timothy Geithner, Treasury Secretary; Lawrence Summers, Director of the National Economic Council and Melody Barnes Domestic Policy Council Director.  Pray for these three as they have already begun to network with leaders from the Bush administration, asking God to guide them with His wisdom and to give each one a heart that serves His will.  Pray for them as they respond to the President Elect’s request that they begin to develop recommendations for his economic plan which was announced November 22.  

President Elect and Mrs. Obama have decided their daughters Malia and Sasha will attend Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. Pray for the girls as they continue to prepare for the transition to a new home, school and city, asking God to precede them to Washington and to prepare great blessing and joy for them as they move. 

As threats continue to be made against President Elect Obama, pray for his continued safety and protection, asking God to cover him with His powerful care and to uncover any plots against his life well before they can be carried out. 

Pray for newly appointed Social Secretary to President Elect Obama, Desireé Rogers, and all those planning the Inaugural festivities in January, asking God for wisdom and harmony as they plan.  Pray particularly for those working on security and clearance issues, for liaisons from the Metropolitan Police of D.C. and other key agencies as they prepare for the historic event. 

Pray for Ted Kaufman, advisor to Vice President Elect Joe Biden, who has been named as his interim replacement in the Senate.  It is expected that Biden’s son, Beau Biden, will run for the seat in 2010 following his return from deployment in Iraq

Pray for the members of Congress as they enjoy the holiday recess.  Pray for each one to have meaningful encounters with their constituents and for spiritual refreshment and renewal as well.

Give thanks for the great privilege of having an abundance of Bibles so readily available as the nation celebrates National Bible Week this week. Pray that God’s Word will be lifted up and that many will come to appreciate and enjoy the meaningful and powerful ways God communicates truth, hope and help to us.  Pray for a great outpouring of interest in and passion for the Bible to sweep across our nation throughout this week that many will grow in their love for God. 

Pray for members of our military as they celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, many away from home for the first time, asking God to encourage and comfort each one. Pray for those who carry positions of significant leadership that they may be led by God in every decision, and pray for the safety and protection of all our troops as they serve.

 

 

PRAY FOR HOLLYWOOD from the Hollywood Prayer Network

 

Please remember the following praises and requests for the entertainment industry:

Praise: We're rejoicing with our friend Dena Higley who has been highlighted in October's PEOPLE Magazine for her new breaking storyline on Days of Our Lives about autism. We're thankful that Dena is using the medium of daytime Soaps to promote autism awareness - such a worthy and far reaching cause. Let's pray for continued favor as she brings positive life experiences into her work.

REQUESTS:

1. The American Film Market was held from November 5-12 in Santa Monica. There were a group of prayer warriors praying for the Market's international distributors, producers and other attendees as they reached out to them with the love of Christ. And they led people to Jesus last week!! Please pray that the seeds sown will make an eternal difference in the lives of many industry professionals whom may never have been touched before by the truth of the Gospel. Pray also that those who became Christians would find a church and grow in their faith.

2. Please pray for singer & Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Hudson, (TV's American Idol, Films; "Dreamgirls" & currently in "The Secret Lives of Bees.") Her mother and brother and 7 year old nephew were found shot to death last month at their South Side, Chicago home. Pray for Divine comfort for Jennifer and the family during this terrible time.

3. Continue to pray for the power and influence of films and television to begin to bring positive attitudes and change to its audience. In the midst of our country's economic crisis, "Quantum of Solace" opened last week-end grossing over $180 million internationally in the first five days. The film's production costs were $200 million. This is during the same week that Starbucks' profits dropped 97%. The time and money that people globally are willing to spend on media is staggering.

4. Pray for the people in Hollywood who dread the holidays and may be going through Thanksgiving and Christmas alone, or with difficult memories of their families, their divorce, their distant children or their unemployment. May the unconditional love of God touch them with peace, warmth and joy this season.

5. Please pray for the Marcarelli's as they complete a documentary on the persecuted church, entitled "Iraqi Christians - Facing Extinction." They are in post-production now and they have requested prayer for guidance and the proper distribution channels. Their goal is to help our brothers and sisters in peril in Iraq and Jordan.

6. Three different members of our Christian community are producing documentaries on different sex trafficking stories across the world. They are all passionate to use their love for filmmaking to educate the world about young girls who are being horribly exploited in cultures of spiritual darkness. Pray for them as they pursue financing, great interviews and may they have Divine favor on their films.

http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/new/welcome