World Prayer News Mar - Apr 2024 WORLD PRAYER NEWS A guide to help you pray for people around the world | Mar - Apr 2024 Global Connections, Caswell Road, Leamington Spa, CV31 1QD. Registered in England & Wales as Evangelical Mission Association. Company number: 3886596 | Charity number: 1081966 Tel: 01926 487755 | Email: info@globalconnections.org.uk Web: globalconnections.org.uk/prayer PrayerMate: praynow4.org/worldprayernews 1. Kosovo - Transform Europe Network 31st January was the international day of prayer for Kosovo. Kosovo is going through a difficult time politically and economically. The national news is warning about the threats of Serbian military invasion in Kosovo. Pray for the peace of God to reign in this region. In the last month over half a million people have left Kosovo, which has brought economic instability. There is also a rise of religious tensions in the country, especially within the Islamic community. We have seen a decline within the evangelical church and the need for workers and missionaries is very high in the country . 2. UK - Galeed House, Sheffield We also run all ages youth clubs. We are having issues with the numbers and regularity. Once these clubs used to be almost overcrowded and immensely popular but lately, we are only having a handful of attendees in all three clubs we run. Please pray for the team for wisdom for the way forward. Amer, delivers free bread, received for free from the local bakery to bless the local residents and establish relationships. Please pray for good friendships! 3. France - France Mission There are currently (late January 2024) two major ethical issues in France that are in the political spotlight. (1) Likely legislation on end - of - life matters where much will depend on whether palliative care and assisted suicide are linked in the same bill or made the subject of two separate pieces of legislation. French Christians are praying that they will be kept separate. (2) The possible inclusion of the right to abortion as a guaranteed freedom in the French Constitution. Evangelicals (and others) are arguing against this change. They would appreciate your prayers on both these topics. 4. Albania - Transform Europe Network Please pray for Albania. There are few job opportunities for people, especially outside of Tirana, and many people choose to leave the country to find work. Pray especially that Christian men would stay in the country and share the gospel with other men. 5. UK - SASRA Please pray Army and Air Force Scripture Readers would speak the truth in love as they go "behind the wire" to reach British service personnel with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 6. Ukraine - European Christian Mission International Praise the Lord for a special, blessed, and productive time in Ukraine. We have fulfilled our objectives for this trip and have connected well with many people, especially some of the team members in the Irpin church plants and here in Lviv with the New Hope team. Please continue praying for the situation in Ukraine. 7. Moldova - Transform Europe Network Pray for Moldova, the poorest country in Europe. Many people of working age are leaving the country to find work elsewhere. Pray that they would stay and build up the local economy. Pray especially that Christian young men would choose to stay in the country to share the good news and build up the churches in Moldova. 8. UK - Torch Trust Please pray that churches across the UK will continue to take up Torch's Sight Loss Friendly Church support and resources, helping them to be truly welcoming and inclusive spaces for people with sight loss. 9. Malawi - Starfish Malawi Our prayers are for Hope Clinic and the Maternity Wing. The clinic saw over 44,000 attendees last year, across both general outpatients and the specialist clinics. The work of the dedicated medical team is appreciated by so many people in the community and further afield. Please pray for good sleeping each night for the medical team, who are really busy during the day. For wisdom and guidance for the two doctors as they assess patients and diagnose issues. For continued provision of drugs and other resources needed each day and for safety for the team and strength to do their work. 10. Sierra Leone - Agapé UK Please pray for the provision of $50,000 for the Great Commission Movement of Sierra Leone towards development work on their office compound and facilities. This work will help move the ministry towards financial self - sustainability and allow for wider investment in reaching the nation with the Gospel. Pray for the staff of the Great Commission Movement of Sierra Leone as they build relationships and seek inroads into Islamic chiefdoms in the north and east of the country to bring the Gospel through Jesus Film outreaches and church planting. 11. Malawi - Zambesi Mission Zambesi Mission has been piloting a new initiative to provide pastors with a 'library on a tablet'. Used Android tablets with SD card slots are loaded up with Bible study resources from a range of partner organisations, enabling each pastor to have access to their own theological library. The mission ’ s supporters have given very generously to allow 40 such tablets to be prepared. Please pray for the logistics of getting them to pastors through Zambesi Mission ’ s office in Malawi. Pray also that these tablets would enhance and enrich each pastor ’ s ministry, as they receive and use them. 12. Malawi - Torch Trust Please pray for Torch Trust Malawi's goat project, which aims to distribute goats to blind and partially sighted people in Malawi, supplying them with a livelihood. Pray for the team involved in running the project, including the vet, the Torch staff and volunteers, pray that the scheme will provide vital support to people with sight loss. 13. Sierra Leone - Agapé UK Please pray for 4 staff from the Great Commission Movement of Sierra Leone as they travel to Libera to complete their programme of key ministry training. Pray for the Great Commission Movement of Sierra Leone Student Ministry as they build Gospel movements on campuses across the country. Pray for students to be bold in sharing their faith, for new students to discover Jesus, grow in their faith and go to reach others, and for the small number of staff to be sustained as they come alongside student leaders. 14. Malawi - Starfish Malawi Our prayers are for Hope Clinic and the Maternity Wing. The clinic saw over 44,000 attendees last year, across both general outpatients and the specialist clinics. Please pray for the ambulance team and that the vehicle will work well despite the state of the rural tracks. For the families in need in the community and many who struggle to get to the clinic. For the final stages of construction of the maternity wing and first midwife house. For provision of two competent midwives and provision of continued funding for the clinic and maternity facilities. 15. Israel/ Jordan/ Palestinian Territories - WEC International Palestinian Arabs of the Levant: The term 'Palestine' originates with the Philistines in Biblical times and was reintroduced by the Romans circa 135AD. It was not used again until 1917 when the British captured the region from the Ottoman Empire. When 30 years later the UN partitioned the region into two states, Jordan and Israel, the ensuing war caused many to be expelled from their homeland, and their descendants became refugees. Pray for the 2.6% Palestinian Christians to hold onto hope and have courage to reach across barriers to Jewish and Muslim neighbours. 16. Israel/ Lebanon/ Syria - WEC International Druze in the Levant: Over one million Druze originate in the Levant region, calling themselves the 'Mowahidoon'. Their religion was founded on 9th and 10th century caliph and mystic teachings from Persia and Egypt. Like Alawi people, they believe in 'transmigration of the soul' (reincarnation). They are reticent to talk about their religion, don't accept converts and rarely intermarry with outsiders. Although they respect Jesus as a prophet, the Druze do not know him as Lord. 17. Syria - Global Care Pray with us for Global Care's partners in Syria and the marginalised children attending their Hope Centre. Pray for encouragement for director Afaf and the team at the Hope Centre. Pray for their protection during state monitoring of activities. Pray also for the team to build resilience in the disadvantaged children, all of whom have experienced trauma due to over a decade of conflict. Pray for effective learning and therapeutic interventions for children as well as positive relationships with parents and families. 18. Lebanon/ Syria - WEC International Alawi people of the Levant: The Alawites are a closed society, led by the 'Khassah', initiated religious leaders who learn the mysteries of their religion. 'Alawi' refers to their veneration of Ali as a manifestation of God; therefore, they are persecuted by mainstream Muslims. The mountains have been a haven for such minority groups; today 127,000 Alawites live in Lebanon and 1.67 million in Syria. Alawites will not discuss their beliefs with visitors. There are few known believers, so the good news needs to be shared particularly with Khassah leaders. 19. Israel/ Jordan/ Jordan/ Lebanon - WEC International Bedouin Arabs in the Levant: The Bedouin traditional homeland is the Arabian Desert. Some have migrated north into the Israeli Negev region, the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai peninsula and Lebanon. They speak Bedawi Arabic and lead a harsh existence with few amenities. The Banu Sakhr and the al - Huwaytat are mostly nomadic sheep and goat herders, while the Fellahin take menial jobs or farm on the desert edge. Pray for a movement to Christ among the Levantine Bedouins. 20. Worldwide - Global Care Pray as we consider the principles of the International Day of Social Justice (20th Feb); pray for human rights, participation, access and equity. Pray we see these flourish in our projects worldwide. Please pray for: increased inclusion for families affected by disability. Increased access to education and health services for minority groups. Equity for girls, disproportionately affected by both Covid and climate change. Pray for greater access to fair legal systems, which support human rights. 21. Southeast Asia - OMF International UK Mekong Minorities - The Dong people group live in very remote areas in the region around the Mekong River. Pray for creative ways for gospel workers to share the good news of Jesus in these areas. 22. Indonesia - WEC International Musi Malay of Indonesia: The 690,000 Musi - speaking people originate from the Musi River valley area of South Sumatra. Traditionally farmers, hunters and fishermen, many today hold key education or government roles, while also growing rice or harvesting rubber. Until their wedding, a Muslim Musi man covers all his fiancée's expenses except food. Pray for Christians to live and work among them to share faith. 23. SE Asia - Al Massira Please pray for Al Massira International and for several trainings (some already underway) in countries in SE Asia. A worker couple are witnessing to Middle Eastern students; others are witnessing to people from East Asia; others are witnessing to SE Asians. Please pray for another training in the SE Asia region next month. May the AM resources (currently translated into 38 languages), continue to help resource the Body of Christ to further train and equip Brother and Sister - workers in their faithful, prayerful pursuit of reaching precious people from all nations, with the glorious Gospel. To the glory of God! 24. Central Asia - Eurasia Education Foundation Pray for the colloquium, in March to look at the state of contextualisation in Central Asia. Western and Slavic worldviews will not create a people movement but the gospel free of culture will reach the hearts of these neglected nations. Some 90 leaders will be participating. 25. Sri Lanka - Global Care This week we pray for our work in Sri Lanka, as CEO John White visits, from 19th - 26th February. Pray for safe travelling, good health and energy for John. Pray for wisdom and resources for Sriyani and the team at Community Concern, and thank God for them. Pray for all disadvantaged children attending the Morning Star Care Centre. Pray for growth and good health for children with HIV/ AIDS. Finally, pray for learning and new opportunities for women attending parenting and anti - trafficking workshops. 26. Taiwan - OMF International UK Lift up to the Lord OMF workers Martha Oates and Simon & Hana Hsu as they prepare to launch a new Shopworkers Church in Kaohsiung. Pray for the process of surveying shopworkers in the area and for spiritual protection when reaching out to shopworkers who may be interested in meeting. 27. Indonesia - WEC International Minangkabau in Indonesia: There are around 6.91 million Minang people spread across Indonesia, and they are 99.7% Muslim. Their name reflects an ancient fable about outwitting a Javanese fighting water buffalo. Today they are recognised as good traders of clothing and jewellery and excellent restaurant owners. Their society is matrilineal, meaning an uncle or brother - in - law will make a family ’ s decisions. Pray for whole families to turn to Christ. 28. Mongolia - Sharing Christ Internationally Very many in Mongolia have yet to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel. Please pray for the ministry of Bible videos which are popular and seen by many thousands of Mongolians. The vast majority are not church attendees. Each video addresses a topic Mongolians have an interest in yet presents clear Bible truth. Please pray for this ministry. 29. Afghanistan - Frontiers Decades of war, political instability, and extremism have left many in Herat, Afghanistan disillusioned with Islam. Pray that this disaffection would be answered by the gospel, and lead to faith and new life in Jesus Christ for many Herati ’ s. Pray for greater access by workers to live in Herat, Afghanistan with new and creative entry strategies that provide long - term work options so vital for relationship - building that leads to proclamation. 30. Philippines - OMF International UK Half of the 42,000 communities in the Philippines still lack a church that clearly teaches Bible and shares the good news of Jesus in a meaningful way. Pray for efforts to plant more churches in the Philippines. 31. Indonesia - WEC International Jambi in Indonesia: Jambi Province on the island of Sumatra has a population of roughly 3.5 million. The largest indigenous people group there are the 1.05 million Jambi Malayu. Their rite of passage to adulthood is often to file the young person's teeth to align them. Most are fishermen, but only a handful follow Jesus. Pray that the trans - migrant churches in Jambi would take up the challenge to share Christ to their Jambi neighbours.