Special Announcement

June 4, 2013

To everyone who is following Praying for the Balkans, Project - I, Jerry Low, the editor and prayer servant, am taking a sabbatical. Although I will not stop personally praying for the Balkans, I will not be spending extra time on research, seeking the Lord’s voice for targeted Balkan countries and printing a prayer directive. I will still be listening for the Lord’s voice as to how I can personally pray for the Balkans but publishing a directive for others to follow will cease for a while. Two things are happening that has brought me to this decision. First as you may know Zuzanna and I are making plans to move to Zagreb, Croatia so we may be closer to the field we plan to serve for this next season of our lives. Second, because of the move, all my attention has to be focused on fund-raising. Actually I prefer to call it friend-raising.

I really do love sending out the prayer directive for the Balkans, because that is where my heart is, but It has been so hard all these years having a burden for the Balkans but having to live in America. Well Zuzanna and I are taking steps to make the move.

I will be sending prayer bulletins of the progress of our move plus prayer needs.

I do want to make this plea to you. Thank you for praying with me for the Balkans. Some of you were with me in the beginning four years ago. I am confident the Lord heard each one of our prayers and has prepared the harvest in the Balkan countries. Here is my PLEA; Send Zuzanna and I with your financial help. We are in much need of partners that will give monthly. Can we count on you?

We will be going under the covering of a very reputable ministry, European Initiative (EI), based in Berlin, Germany.  For three years we have cooperated with them in their Romanian outreaches. They have a deep burden to save and transform Europe. EI has ask us to set up a base in Croatia - so ministry can be extended to that area in a fuller measure.

To give go to: https://www.europeaninitiative.com/connect/donate - Be sure to write in ‘for Jerry and Zuzanna’ in the Message box.

We would love to have you as our partner. We will pray for you daily and you will be credited in heaven with the advancement of the Kingdom in the Balkans. Also while we are still here in the states we would love to come to your church, house of prayer or small group and share the needs of the Balkans. We plan to be active in the Balkan countries with Evangelism, Prayer, Humanitarian aid, Teaching and Jewish ministry.

For more information on EI go to: www.europeaninitiative.com

Pray for Bulgaria

Week of May 20-26, 2013
 

Usually I publish the prayer directives on Monday but I never could get peace for yesterday. Finally it was this morning (Tuesday) I got the word for Bulgaria.

The Lord said to pray into Pentecost. This last Sunday was Pentecost, which was the birth of the Church. It was the day we read of in the 2^{nd chapter of Acts. (It was and is 50 days after Passover or Resurrection Sunday)}

I want to pick out a few sections of Acts 2 for us to pray into.
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2　And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3　Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4　And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

12　So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"

13　Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."

14　But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15　For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16　But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17　‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18　And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19　I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20　The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
21　And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’

37　Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

38　Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39　For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

42　And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1) Verse 2:1 "they were in one accord" – Let us pray for the Church in Bulgaria (the representatives of Christ), that they would come together around Christ, bury their envy, repent of criticizing other groups, and flow as one stream.
2) Let them be united around a love for Jesus, a love for each other and a love for those that do not know Jesus.
3) Verse 2 "a rushing mighty wind… filled the house" – Holy Spirit do it again and again. May the Holy Spirit blow through every church that is in one accord.
4) Verse 4 – Let us pray for an outpouring of the Lord manifesting Himself in their mist. May it be that when Bulgarian churches meet, the Holy Spirit comes in such a way that the un-churched hear and come to see the miracles of God.
5) Verses 12-13 – There was fire upon their heads and they could speak other peoples’ languages. First of all, may the Bulgarian Christians be full of fire; the fire of the Gospel. Second may the change in the Christians be so evident that it puts a question in the minds of the lost.
6) Verses 14-16 – There will then be a need for the Apostles and Prophets in Bulgaria to stand up and explain what God is doing. Let the Apostles and Prophets get ready for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May they have the wisdom and the anointing to bring guidance.
7) Verses 17-21 – "and it shall come to pass in the last days’ – Oh, Lord, we so yearn for the outpouring Joel prophesied. May the end-time prophecy of Joel be fulfilled in Bulgaria in this generation.
8) May the Bulgarians respond like they did that day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. Acts 2: 37　Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
NOTE: I was in a prayer meeting this morning and the dominate Word from the Lord was, "The finishing anointing is coming to rest upon the intercessors". The intercessors will start wrestling cities, people groups, nations out of the hands of the Devil. The Holy Spirit is about to fall in places He has not been seen in centuries. The "fore-runners" are about to go forth and spread the word of the coming of the Lord.

Pray for Bosnia Herzegovina

Week of May 13-19, 2013

In the News: Law Enforcement Re-examines Islamic Groups in the Balkans

 

Unidentified Islamic groups in the Balkans have sent threatening messages to foreign diplomats, military and political representatives as well as to the international missions serving in the region, prompting law enforcement to re-examine numerous Islamic groups, security analysts said.
Measures are being taken to follow the activities of such groups to prevent potential terrorist acts, according to Zoran Mitevski, former assistant director of the Intelligence Agency of Macedonia.

"These organizations are active in BiH [Bosnia and Herzegovina] but also in Sandzak [Serbia] and in Kosovo, and they continually try to expand their activities in Macedonia. The radical Islamic groups' activists are trained and financed from sources in the Middle East and the potential danger lies in the fact that activists are trained to produce explosive devices including those similar to the recent bombings in Boston, according to Ivan Babanovski, analyst and former security studies professor at Security Faculty in Skopje.

Iran has been increasingly linked to the Islamic movements in BiH capable of carrying out terrorist acts, according to veteran security analyst Dzevad Galijasevic.

Babanovski said new members are recruited by… groups that organize free courses, religious gatherings and lectures.

1)    Islam is growing in the Balkans and Bosnia Herzegovina is a targeted country. Let us pray for confusion in the camp of the enemy. May they hear a rumor and leave in fear.
 2 Kings 19:7  Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
2)    Lord, we ask that the radicals would be exposed and justice rendered. Pray also that the radical teaching material in these mosques would be exposed.
3)    Let us pray that the media of Bosnia Herzegovina would not hide the truth about these groups.
4)    Let us pray for the police and investigative agencies that are pursuing radical Islamic activity. May they be like hunting hounds that are able to “sniff-out” their prey.
5)    Let us pray that the Lord would continue to raise up intercessors to pray against this radicalization in Bosnia. Pray that many would be raised up with a burden to reach lost Muslims.
6)    A great percentage of the Muslims in Bosnia Herzegovina are not religious. Many drink alcohol and eat pork. It takes effort but they are more accessible with the Gospel than the Muslim countries of the Middle East. Let us pray for labors.
7)    Lord, we pray that individuals and teams would to be sent out for full-time ministers or even as tent-maker ministries to show acts of kindness to the Muslim culture of Bosnia Herzegovina. I see individual saints befriending Muslims through acts of kindness.
8)    Let us pray for those that will be raised up that have boldness to go into the mosques and reason with the imams. They will not fear death but will shine with the glory of God in the time of persecution.
Acts 17:2 (KJV) And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
9)    Let us pray also that Holy Spirit would follow these bold ones and the presence of the Lord would manifest through miracles of healing, words of knowledge, demons cast out and demonstrations of power through the name of Jesus.

Last week I read an article about how there were many Christians (mainly Catholic) leaving Bosnia Herzegovina because so many Muslims are taking control of neighbors. They estimated that 200,000 Catholics have immigrated since the war in the mid-90s. Not only is there a political clash of cultures in Bosnia but a religious one also.

10)    Out of a population of 4 million, there is only about 2,500 Evangelicals. Let us pray for these Evangelicals, that they may stand strong, that they not leave the country and that they would reach out to the unbelievers around them.
11)    Let us also pray that they will prosper in the land.
12)    Lord, we ask for strategies to reach out to the lost. Give the Christian in Bosnia Herzegovina hope. Help them to believe for revival in their land. Help us to stand in the gap for them.

Thanks for praying for Bosnia. In the day when revival comes, may the Lord remind you of the prayers you prayed and how you set redemption into motion.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Albania

Week of May 6 - 12, 2013

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN  -  Op-Ed Columnist  When I was in Albania last week, I was amazed by the people's basic desire for a stable life, and that tells me two things. It tells me that the citizens of Albania have no shortage of courage, and that is a good beginning to grow from. Second, it tells me that people in Albania are just like people anywhere else on this flat earth of ours.

So what should we do about the chaos in Albania? Well, it's easier to start with what we should not do. We should not let seemingly endless frustrations cause the people of Albania to doubt their chance at progress. Beyond that, we need to be careful to nurture the seeds of democratic ideals. The opportunity is there, but I worry that the path to stability is so strewn with obstacles that Albania will have to move down it very slowly. Published: May 5, 2013 http://thomasfriedmanopedgenerator.com/Can%2BGod%2BSave%2BAlbania%253F%2B7203ae#

1.      There is great hope for Albania. I don’t always agree with Thomas Friedman but he does offer hope for Albanians. Pray for Albania and all their institutions as they seek freedom and a better life.

2.      There is much investment going into Albania at this time to develop their coast line. Please pray that Christian construction companies would seize upon this opportunity to bless that nation with development and especially jobs. 

3.      May the Gospel always have the freedom to be proclaimed in Albania. Pray that Orthodox and Muslim leaders would not stir up opposition to Evangelical churches and try to restrict them from spreading the Gospel.

4.      Let us pray for evangelical in Albania. May they seize upon the open door they have to preach the Gospel throughout Albania.

5.      Lord, we ask strategies be given the churches to evangelize Albania.

6.      Many foreign Christian groups have gone to Albania since Communism fell. Let us pray for the seeds that were sown. Let us pray for more missionaries to be sent.

7.      May the churches rise up and touch the social fabric of Albania. Give the pastors vision and strategies to communicate the gospel to the population.

8.      I just believe this is a time of decision for Albania. There is an election coming up in June in Albania. Let us pray for people to be elected that will stand up against corruption. 

9.      Pray that the media would do their job and report all the news and not be favorable to one political party over others. May the journalists be bold and factual in their reporting.

 Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

 

 

Week of April 29 - May 5, 2013

 

What is the largest city in Europe?  - lubnatsI

Istanbul, with an estimated population of 14 million, it is the second largest city in the world after Shanghai, China.

First established 660 BC as Byzantium, the city now known as Istanbul developed to become one of the most significant cities in history. For nearly sixteen centuries following its reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 AD, it served as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times, before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold and the seat of the last caliphate.

The Roman emperor Constantine in 330 established Istanbul (Constantinople) as the new Christian Rome. The historians debate his motives, but the result was a place where Christianity had a foothold and a major city to be launched from. In 1453, Sultan Mahmed II finally captured the city for the Ottoman Empire and it has been an Islamic ever since.

A Great City well worthy of our Prayers –

1)      Let us pray for Istanbul. May the Lord visit the city in a special way. Lord, come release your compassion on this city.

2)      Churches are allowed to exist in the city but it had for them the get established. There is much resistance from the predominant Muslim neighborhoods and magistrates. Let us pray for open doors and open hearts.

3)      There are houses of prayer in the city and they are contending in prayer for the city. Let us first pray for them to have an open heaven to intercede from.

4)      May there be a release of creative strategies to reach many in the city with the Gospel.

5)      Lord, we ask You for protection on behalf of every Christian in Istanbul.

6)      Lord, we pray for the positioning of Christians to be lights among their Muslim neighbors. May they excel in wisdom, kindness and favor. Help them be able to walk above the oppression of Islam that is now allowed to dominate the city.

7)      Let us believe for a day when the city can once again be established as stronghold of the Gospel. Let us believe for a day when Muslims find their true redeemer.

8)      Let us pray for many missionaries to be sent to Istanbul. There is a new generation of missionaries being raised up to preach the end-time message to the world; may they find an open door to Istanbul.

9)      Let me describe a mental vision I received while praying the directive I had written above. I seen the Lord standing above Istanbul with His feet resting on the city. I looked and He had His hands stretched out in a welcoming jester. Then I looked again and He had a sword held at His side. I ask what did this mean? The Holy Spirit  said the Lord would stand above the city and He would be seen by two types of people. Some would see him as a welcoming friend and loving Savior. Some would see Him as a conquering warrior, a man of authority. Both would receive Him as Savior.; both would enter into His peace.



Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Slovenia

Week of April 22-28, 2013

After Cyprus, Slovenia will be the next euro zone country to succumb to a bailout

Markets are betting that Slovenia will be the next euro zone country to succumb to a bailout. In contrast to Cyprus, Slovenia's banking system is not large - around 1.4 times as big as the economy - and there are negligible foreign depositors. But the Slovenian banks, most of them state-owned, are crippled with bad loans, which reached 14.4 percent of their loan books last year. Like Cyprus, Slovenia does not have the money to recapitalize them, Reuters notes. http://www.balkans.com/open-news.php?uniquenumber=172863

1)    First of all let us rebuke that news headline. In our prayers for Slovenia let us replace “will be” with “will not be”.
2)    Let us pray for wise men and women to arise with wisdom from on high.  Lord, bring forth those who know the times and know how to work out the least painful way to avoid economic short-fall.
The following prayer directives are mainly directed toward the Christians in Slovenia.


Deuteronomy 27: 11-13 And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying,  “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin;  and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.(NKJV)


Moses gave Israel a prophetic act to preform when they would come into the land. In Deuteronomy Moses had laid out the law and he was about to explain the Blessings and the Curses. The tribes were to be divided with one group stationing themselves on Mt. Gerizim to speak the blessings of God and the other group to stand on Mt. Ebal to speak the curses of God. These two mountains faced each other. These were not necessarily declarations or proclamations but rather reminders to the people of how God would judge them in the land.

3)    Let us ask the Lord to speak these blessings and curses in the ears and the hearts of the Slovene people. We do not ask for legalism but rather clear guidelines to righteousness.
4)    May the God anointed pastors and teachers in Slovenia clearly proclaim the whole counsel of God so the Christians may know how to walk in righteousness.
5)    Slovenia is a mountainous area; May the mountains sing out the ways of the Lord. May Slovenia be saved from the wrath to come, May the earth proclaim His glory.

Isaiah 55:12 “For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (NKJV)

There is a dear brother named Todd that sends out a prayer calendar each month with guidelines on how to pray for Slovenia. His prayer calendar for April 22 – 30, 2013 ask us to pray for children. May we join in praying for the following concerns regarding the Slovenian children of Christians and you may pray these for all children:

6)    Pray for Assurance of Salvation (Jn. 3:16, 10:28-29; 1 Jn. 5:13)
7)    Pray for Spiritual Blessing (Eph. 1:3-14, 3:17-19, 5:8-10)
8)    Pray for Repentance (Ps. 32:1-2, 1 Jn. 1:5-9)
9)    Pray for Sanctification (2 Co. 3:18, James 1:2-4, Heb. 12:5-11)
10)    Pray for Hope and Rest (Jer.29:11 Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 15:13 Phil. 4:6-7)
11)    Pray for Comfort (Matt.5:4; Jn. 14:16-18)
12)    Pray for Friendships (Eccl. 4:9-12; Prov. 27:5-6; 1 Cor. 15:33)
13)    Pray for Effective Parents (Prov.20:7; Eph.6:4)
14)    Pray for Godly Heritage (Ps. 127:35, 128:1-4; 1 Cor. 7:32-35)
15)    Pray for Protection (Jam. 5:14-16; Jn. 17:15; 2 Thes. 3:3; 1 Cor. 10:13)

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Serbia

Week of April 15-21, 2013

I want to bring you Praise Reports from Serbia.

Belgrade (Pastor Savic): After teaching on “Relationships Our Daily [Bread]”, Pastor Savic’s church grew to 115 not counting children.

Pastor Savic writes, “Evangelism is still our priority. Every Saturday we organize evangelism at the hotel in downtown Belgrade that is attended by 20 to 30 students. We also started a Bible group every Thursday at the Student dorm .”

Pastors Nebojsa and Gordana Savic have a Family Counseling ministry where they are directing couples in God’s marriage plans. They say, “At the moment we have eight couples, three children and two individuals for counseling.” Because of the work they are doing to help marriages, the news papers and television have interviewed them many times.

Contact information: Savić Nebojša i Gordana

Slavonskih brigada 21, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia

Email Nesa: nesagoca2@gmail.com

Website: www.brakiporodica.org

Novi Sad (Pastors Danny and Vera Kuranji), they write:

 Dear Friends,

This is too good not to share right away!

Last Saturday we had 14 people baptized! Praise and joy followed each one as they came out of the water. Touching testimonies of changed lives have moved us to tears. Changed lives and changed destinies is what Jesus went to the cross for! Thank you, Jesus!

Four young men from the rehab center were in the group, they are in final phase of rehabilitation (more were interested, but we have decided to limit to those who are in center longer than 8 months). Free from heroin, free from sin, adopted in God’s family and excited to be baptized!

Each soul is precious to Him. Thank you for praying for us and we do hope that you will rejoice and praise Him for teenagers, young men and all others that you see on the picture. (picture above)

Love and thanks for your partnership,
 

Vera & Danny

Contact Information: kuranjid@gmail.com

There are many other good things happening in Serbia; Pastor Sabo in the north and their work with the Roma (Gypsies) and the refugees. There are doors of ministry opening in southern Serbia.

   

    1)      Thank You, Lord Jesus for the moving of Holy Spirit in Serbia. We pray for daily increase just like in the book of Acts.

    2)      Lord, we pray for the day when Serbia will be a blessing to all the nations surrounding it and even beyond. Let us declare over Serbia the release of Blessing from on high.

    3)      Thank You Lord, for the salvations in Novi Sad, Serbia. Lord, we ask for a seal to be put on each person’s heart that has followed You in baptism. May they see miracles in their lives, transforming them daily.

    4)      Let us pray for the drug and alcohol rehab in Novi Sad. Each client that is there, may they be overwhelmed by Jesus’ love. Be with the counselors and leaders; Give them patients to wait on the transformation in each life. In Prayer, give them hope for the clients. May they all grow in Faith daily.

    5)      Oh, Lord, I know You love Belgrade. Thank You for Pastors Nebojsa and Gordana Savic. Belgrade is a really hard city. Lord, we ask You to protect them and their family daily. Their hearts are totally Yours, make sure they have everything they need.

I see (in the Spirit) a tent set up outside the city of Belgrade. The Lord is in the tent and His army stands at attention in line with the tent. Angels are entering the tent and then exiting with orders in their hands. They go among the ranks selecting their platoon or squad. They lift their swords to the heavens, cry “Holy is the Lamb” and then fly off to do battle in the city.  

    6)      I have to believe that these angels are carrying out the prayers of the intercessors. As we pray, the Lord hears and an angel or assistant writes them out. The Lord places His seal of approval on the order and it is carried out. Lord, do not pull back from the city!

    7)      Let us pray for an army of saints to hear the call to go to Belgrade. Equip them with Your Love. No one can argue with pure Love from above.

Special Prayer: In most of the Balkan nations there are youth camps planned for the summer months. Many present day leaders in the Balkans testify of meeting Jesus in these camps. Pray that this summer many would give their lives to Jesus.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.